Teaching Sites
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a complex of institutions and
campuses located in West Texas, which educate health professionals, undertake medical
research, and provide patient care. TTUHSC is a multi-campus system with regional
academic health centers (RAHCs) located in four West Texas cities (Amarillo, Lubbock,
and Odessa). Lubbock is the home of Texas Tech University and is the administrative
center of the Health Sciences Center system.
TTUHSC's service area comprises 107 counties in West Texas and covers 130,000 square miles. This area contains nine growing urban centers with highly sophisticated medical complexes. Many excellent opportunities for practice development exist in both rural and urban West Texas communities.
Educational programs at each RAHC recognize the individual clinical and research strengths of that center. Because research enhances patient care and is an essential component of quality academic health sciences center programs, TTUHSC strongly encourages research interests.
The School of Medicine's clinical departments have introduced many specialized programs which were previously unavailable in West Texas or Eastern New Mexico. TTUHSC offers these services: Radiation Therapy Center, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Burn Care and Treatment Center, Emergency Medical Services, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Regional Emergency Air Care Transport, Trauma Center (level 1), Pediatric Intermediate Care, Day Surgery Center, Minor Emergency Center, Family Care Unit, Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Seniors' Education Programs, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Center, Hypertension Referral Center, Psychiatric Care and International Pain Institute.
Modern and spacious library facilities are located on each TTUHSC campus. The TTUHSC libraries subscribe to 3471 journals. Journal subscriptions and medical books comprise a collection of 289,736 bound volumes and have over 250 HSC related electronic books with access to 24,503 (2,239 electronic journal titles). In addition, 14,424 audiovisual items (videotapes, audiotapes and slides) are available. The libraries also provide access to the internet and multiple databases such as Medline, Up-To-Date, CINAHL, IPA, and Micromedex.
The 412-bed University Medical Center (UMC) opened in 1978 and is the primary teaching hospital for the Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center. UMC in concert with TTUHSC is committed to providing opportunities
for educational excellence and unsurpassed state-of-the-art health care delivery to
the residents of Lubbock, West Texas, and Eastern New Mexico. UMC has on staff over
400 physicians and over 200 residents and employs 1,800 people.
UMC is a regional referral center for specialized pediatric services, including Maternal-Fetal Intensive Care Unit, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Physicians also refer patients to UMC's adult acute care services: the Burn Intensive Care Unit, Kidney Transplant Center, High Risk Obstetrical Care, and Level 1 Trauma Unit. Freestanding Ambulatory Care Clinics associated with UMC provide further referrals from the community to the hospital.
UMC's Emergency Medical Services provide the area with the most sophisticated and complete emergency services available. AeroCare, the emergency medical air care service operated by UMC and Covenant Health Systems. EMS paramedics and physicians provide continuous emergency room coverage, qualifying the UMC Emergency Room as the only Level 1 Trauma Center on the South Plains.
UMC also supports the multidisciplinary International Pain Institute, the interdisciplinary UMC Cancer Center, a comprehensive Gastrointestinal Lab, the Sports Medicine Center, the Children's Hospital, and the McInturff Conference and Education Center. The Breast Imaging Center and Seniors Are Special programs at UMC address the unique health issues of women and senior citizens.
UMC Gastroenterology clinic at 4309 102nd Street in Lubbock, Texas, opened as part of the initiative to expand healthcare services in Southwest Lubbock. This clinic, along with UMC's Endoscopy Center, provides advanced gastrointestinal care to the region, offering both adult and pediatric gastroenterology services.
Site Director for GI Fellowship: Dr. Vanessa Costilla
Dr. Vanessa Costilla, MD is a gastroenterologist in Lubbock, TX and has over 13 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Costilla is eager to fill the gaps of diversity in healthcare by being a female provider, and being bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. She is passionate about partnering with her patients through their healthcare journey.
Education
Fellowship: Gastroenterology, University of Texas Health Science Center
Residency: Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Participating Faculty: Dr. Nebiyou Wondimagegnehu
Dr. Nebiyou Wondimagegnehu is a gastroenterologist in Lubbock, Texas and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area. He has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Nebiyou Wondimagegnehu has expertise in treating stroke, upper gi endoscopy, among many other conditions.
Education
Fellowship: Gastroenterology, Howard University Hospital Internal Medicine GME
Residency: Internal Medicine, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Medical School: Addis Ababa University
UMC’s Southwest Cancer Center is a nationally recognized leader in the fight against cancer. Our multi-disciplinary approach combines the expertise of Texas Tech physicians with UMC's compassionate care and technological advancements. Comprehensive cancer treatment and care is available in one facility, close to home.
The SWCC provides patients with a wide-range of treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical oncology and bone marrow transplant. Our team of physicians includes experts in medical, surgical and pediatric oncology, as well as hematological diseases. The first Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in the region was started right here at UMC, and the first clinical trials offered in the West Texas region began here, too.
At the Southwest Cancer Center, you’re in very good hands. You and your family can trust that our team will work tirelessly to treat your condition. Exceptional care today means hope for a cure tomorrow.
Covenant Health Facilities
Throughout our region, wherever there’s a need, Covenant Health is there to help. At our flagship facilities in Lubbock — Covenant Medical Center
and Covenant Children’s — we house a number of specialty treatment centers, including:
Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates (LDDA)
Since 1986, LDDA's mission has been to provide quality, cost-effective care to our
patients in an atmosphere of professional dedication and compassion. With physicians
at LDDA who are trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology, you can expect
the high-quality treatment you depend on when you need it.
Site Director for GI Fellowship: Dr. Ariwan Rakvit
Dr. Ariwan Rakvit is a board-certified gastroenterologist with Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates. She performs routine GI procedures such as upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis, screening and surveillance of gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. She is particularly interested in colon cancer screening and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition, she also specializes in liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis. She is fluent in English, Thai and Mandarin. She is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physician and American Gastroenterological Association.
Education
Graduate School: Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Medical School: Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Residency: Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Fellowship: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Fellows participate in a one month away rotation during their first year of training through the inpatient and outpatient hepatology and transplant hepatology services with direct involvement in patient care and calls. This site provides high quality education, experience, and research in a wide spectrum of general hepatology disorders and liver transplantation.
Site Director: Dr. Fred Poordad
Dr. Poordad is Clinical Professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and Vice President of Academic and Clinical Affairs at The Texas Liver Institute in San Antonio. Dr. Poordad received his bachelor and medical doctorate at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and completed a residency in internal medicine at St. Thomas Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Dr. Poordad also completed fellowships in gastroenterology at the University of South Carolina and in hepatology/liver transplantation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Poordad served as the co-director of liver transplantation at Johns Hopkins prior to becoming chief of hepatology and liver transplantation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for 10 years. In 2012, he joined The Texas Liver Institute and the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He teaches medical students, resident and fellows and rotates on the liver transplant services at University Hospital System. Dr. Poordad also conducts a multitude of clinical research across all facets of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, fatty liver and cirrhosis
Fellows participate in a one month away rotation during their second year of training through the inpatient and outpatient hepatology and transplant hepatology services with direct involvement in patient care and calls. This site provides high quality education, experience, and research in a wide spectrum of general hepatology disorders and liver transplantation.
Site Director: Dr. Ariel Aday
Ariel Aday, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. She serves as the Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. Her research interest is medical education.
Originally from Bristol, Virginia, Dr. Aday holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina and earned her medical degree at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem. She completed internal medicine residency training at UT Southwestern, where she also served as Chief Medical Resident. She remained at UT Southwestern to complete her gastroenterology fellowship.
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Aday initially joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2015 as an Assistant Instructor during her tenure as Chief Medicine Resident. She rejoined the faculty in 2019 and quickly resumed her involvement as a GME leader.