Historical Background of the HSC
The Texas A&M Health Science Center, established in 1999, is committed to improving the health of Texans through integrated education, research and public service programs that emphasize accessibility and public and community health. This approach extends the land-grant philosophy of The Texas A&M University System to improving the quality of life through good health and strengthening the economy by encouraging a healthy workforce.
The Board of Regents of the A&M System officially approved the establishment of the Texas A&M Health Science Center in September 1997. One year prior, in September 1996, the Board of Regents authorized the chancellor to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of consolidation of the major health-related elements within the A&M System into a System-wide health science center. The rationale for this analysis included the potential for better service to the people of Texas through a statewide emphasis on community health, increased effectiveness through multidisciplinary collaboration, a central focal point for health-related issues within the A&M System and enhanced external support for the health programs. The results of this study recommended to the Board of Regents that the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, the then-proposed School of Rural Public Health, Baylor College of Dentistry and the Institute of Biosciences and Technology be integrated into a new institution – The Texas A&M Health Science Center. The recommendation also included creating a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences to offer graduate degree programs in medicine, dentistry and public health.
In addition to these four components, very strong programmatic connections were established with the A&M System nursing programs at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, and West Texas A&M University in Canyon. In addition, the Texas A&M Health Science Center has established relationships with Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, which have employees serving all 254 Texas counties.
As a result of the study, a resolution was written by the 75th Texas Legislature in support of the desire of the Board of Regents to accomplish the consolidation. The formal reorganization of existing members into an A&M System Health Science Center was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on January 23, 1998, and the School of Rural Public Health was officially approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on April 23, 1998. During the 76th Texas Legislature, funding was approved to consolidate and create the new A&M System Health Science Center effective September 1, 1999.
Since then, the Texas A&M Health Science Center has continued to evolve and grow. It received full accreditation for 10 years from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2003. Accreditation by the Commission on Colleges signifies the HSC has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish its purpose on a continuing basis.
A 23,000-square-foot South Texas Center was constructed in McAllen and dedicated in 2004 to expand the Health Science Center’s presence in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and complement the current programs of its initial component program, the School of Rural Public Health. It features laboratories, offices, classrooms and conference areas so the HSC can develop a wide range of health training, clinical research, medical education, community medicine and public health programs with local partners.
In 2003, an education center was constructed in Temple to enhance the partnership between the College of Medicine and Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic. The 45,000-square-foot facility – containing a library, lecture halls, classrooms, an auditorium, a lecture resources center and more – is used for numerous medical programs involving medical students, residents, fellows and faculty/staff.
Also that year, the Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI) was established. The RCHI supports academic programs and works to strengthen community outreach and research programs to reduce the shortage of health care professionals in rural communities and the disparity in health status between rural and urban communities.
The Texas Enterprise Fund awarded $50 million in 2005 for the creation of the Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine, a non-profit organization founded by the Institute of Biosciences and Technology at Houston, Texas A&M University in College Station and Lexicon Genetics, Inc. in the Woodlands. The Institute is designed to pioneer the development of life-changing medical innovation, accelerate the pace of medical discoveries and foster the development of the biotechnology industry in Texas.
After years of borrowing space in Bryan and College Station, the School of Rural Public Health finally has a home of its own to continue innovative efforts for assisting underserved and rural areas of the state. A formal ribbon-cutting occurred in February 2006 for the new three-building, 100,000-square-foot complex is located on the Texas A&M University campus.
Another noteworthy Health Science Center development was creation of the Office of Homeland Security to address homeland security issues related to human health. Lt. Gen. Paul K. Carlton Jr., M.D., was chosen as its first and current director.
The College of Medicine recently was given the go-ahead to incrementally expand its class size from 80 to 200 students per class. Possible through the expansion of pre-clinical and clinical experiences in Bryan-College Station and Temple, the increase is an effort to address the health needs for the state’s increasing population.
Following approval of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy officially joined the Texas A&M Health Science Center in April 2006. Classes for the first 70 students in the College, located on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus, will begin in August.
In addition to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, faculty within the College and HSC components – including the College of Medicine in College Station and Temple, Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas and Institute of Biosciences and Technology in Houston – will benefit from collaboration opportunities for basic science and translational research.
The College of Pharmacy is named for District 35 Rep. Irma Lerma Rangel, chair of the House Higher Education Committee who long fought for the first professional school in South Texas and died of cancer in March 2003. A groundbreaking on the three-story, 63,000-square-foot facility – featuring wireless access and research laboratories – occurred the same month Rangel died, and the College officially was named after her in October 2004.
Back in 2002, the Health Science Center held its first academic convocation. The ceremonial assembly recognized the inauguration of Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., as president of the HSC and vice chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M System.
A second convocation occurred in January 2006. This event celebrated a new vision and declared the Health Science Center’s commitment to providing quality programs and services throughout Texas. The HSC also affirmed its dedication to meeting the health-related needs of Texans.
The principles of the “Pathways to Excellence 2015” strategic plan are pursuit of excellence, statewide service, exemplary diversity, steadfast integrity, academic freedom, active collaboration, professional development and unshakable commitments. These core values lend distinction to the Texas A&M Health Science Center’s pursuits of quality in educational programs, prominence in scientific discovery, and innovation in treatment, practice and public service.
