In September 1997, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents formally approved establishment of the A&M System’s health-related entities as Health Science Center (HSC) academic units, and it officially began operation Sept. 1, 1999.

"The Texas A&M Health Science Center is a premier assembly of colleges devoted to educating health professionals and researchers of extraordinary competence and integrity."

Mission

In all it does, the Texas A&M Health Science Center dedicates the full measure of its resources and abilities to advancing the knowledge and technologies of its professions and to bringing Texans the finest in health education, promotion and care. Because of its work, people’s lives are changed – across our state, around the nation, and throughout the world. Its faculty, staff and students are united by a belief that all people, regardless of geography, economics or culture, deserve the benefits of compassionate care, superior science and exceptional health education.

President

Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., is President of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for The Texas A&M University System. The first woman ever elected president of the American Medical Association, Dr. Dickey has served as interim dean of the College of Medicine, is the founding program director of the Family Medicine Residency of the Brazos Valley and is a professor of family and community medicine at the College of Medicine. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including five honorary doctorate degrees in both science and law. Besides being a family physician, she serves on numerous committees, both locally and nationally, and writes for several medical and health policy journals. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Scott and White Foundation and the College Station Medical Center Hospital and is a frequent speaker at professional and civic organizations around the country and world.

Students, Faculty & Staff

From its inception, quality growth has been evident in Texas A&M Health Science Center activities. Student enrollment since 1999 has risen by 48.7 percent, from 882 students to 1,312 professional and academic students. Health Science Center minority head count enrollment also has risen from 102 students in 1999 to 253 students in 2006, a 148 percent increase.

Research

From Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 to FY 2006, total research expenditures have grown more than 93.7 percent, the biggest occurring in private expenditures, causing the current total to be more than $72.3 million. Research expenditures for academic units have increased 83.5 percent from FY ’01 to FY ’06, while the numbers of research proposals and awards have grown to be more than a combined $184 million.

Academic Units

Baylor College of Dentistry opened its doors with 45 students enrolled 100 years ago as State Dental College. Today, with an enrollment of about 533 and more than 8,000 graduates, BCD is internationally recognized for its oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care and community service programs.

The College of Medicine was founded in 1977 and is committed to educating, training and equipping physicians who are compassionate about their patients and dedicated to the communities in which they serve. Located on the Texas A&M University campus and at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, the college utilizes approximately 700 basic scientists and clinicians to instruct students during the course of their medical education.

The goal of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is to prepare future faculty and researchers to improve the health of Texans through scientific discovery and education. The graduate school offers master’s and doctoral programs in biomedical and public health sciences. Students and faculty and located in College Station, Houston and Dallas.

Institute of Biosciences and Technology researchers seek cures for human diseases, whether it is cancer, heart failure, stroke, birth defects, bacterial infections or hereditary diseases. IBT researchers are helping find new ways to treat and prevent these conditions and also training graduate students to carry on research in these critical areas.

A recent addition to the Texas A&M Health Science Center is the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, located on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The first class of 76 students began studies in August 2006 in a new approximateky 63,000-square foot, $14.5-million facility. Students pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.The newest addition to the Texas A&M Health Science Center is the College of Nursing, located on the campus of Texas A&M University.

The School of Rural Public Health is the first public health school in the nation to focus on rural populations. In its eight short years of academic existence, SRPH has developed three master’s and two doctoral degree programs, a large-scale distance education program, major centers of research excellence and been awarded full accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Regional Efforts

The Coastal Bend Health Education Center, established in 1999 through Senate Bill 590, has offices located in Corpus Christi and Kingsville. CBHEC provides health educational programs to 19 counties in the Greater Coastal Bend area of Texas, with special emphasis on medically underserved and rural communities.

Contact CBHEC

6300 Ocean Drive
Natural Resources Center, Suite 3500
Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5503
Phone (361) 825-2810
Fax (361) 825-2898
Web http://cbhec.tamhsc.edu

• The SRPH - McAllen provides support for health professions education, recruits students into the health professions for McAllen and surrounding counties, provides health outreach programs to disadvantaged populations in the region and conducts research on health issues specific to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Contact McAllen Campus

2101 S. McColl
McAllen, TX 78503
Phone (956) 668-6300
Fax (956) 668-6301
Web http://stc.tamhsc.edu

• In June 2003, the Texas A&M Health Science Center established the Rural and Community Health Institute, which strives to partner with rural and community health facilities, clinics, and physicians to provide a variety of educational programs that strengthen and assure quality and patient safety. The institute targets healthcare delivery services, establishes database management and analysis, and conducts policy research that may be difficult for small facilities to accomplish alone.

Contact RCHI

8441 State Highway 47
Clinical Building 1, Suite 3200
Bryan, TX 77807
Phone (979) 436-0390
Fax (979) 436-0079
Web http://rchitexas.org

• The Office of Homeland Security addresses issues related to homeland security and human health such as providing a professional “second response” for biological or bioterrorist emergencies involving Texas, assisting police, fire and other emergency workers. It also provides information and training on a variety of health issues as they relate to terrorism and homeland security.

Contact Homeland Security

8441 State Highway 47
Clinical Building 1, Suite 3100
Bryan, TX  77807
Phone (979) 436-9130
Web http://tamhsc.edu/homeland

Contact TAMHSC

Texas A&M Health Scienc Center
Office of the President
8441 State Highway 47
Clinical Building 1, Suite 3100
Bryan, TX  77807
Phone (979) 436-9100
Fax (979) 436-0072
Web http://tamhsc.edu