Texas A&M Health Science Center

Winter 2010

Winter 2010 Administrative Updates

Health Science Center committed to helping HUBs

HUB Through the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program and Procurement Services, the Texas A&M Health Science Center encourages and promotes full and equal business opportunities for all businesses for state contracting in accordance with the State of Texas Disparity Study.

“HUB and Procurement Services is committed to providing a cost effective, efficient facility for the procurement and provision of a wide range of goods and services within specified limits of quality and cost,” said Thomas Bosquez, director of HUB and Procurement Services and HSC contracts officer. “We are pleased to receive inquiries from any department looking for products, services or advice in general on any HUB or procurement matter. We also advise the HSC community on all procurement requirements and proposed policies and strategies for their delivery.”

The HSC administration and the colleges commit to a good faith effort to increase purchases from and contract awards to HUBs consistent with the state's goals for HUB participation and overall economic development. These contract goals are 11.9 percent for heavy construction other than building; 26.1 percent for all building construction including general constructors and operative builders; 57.2 percent for all special trade construction; 20 percent for professional services; 33 percent for all other services; and 12.6 percent for commodities.

In fact, the HSC has remained among the top Texas health-related institutions (HRIs) and state agencies for the past few years. Also, the HSC has consistently ranked in the Top 25 state agencies.

As a state-supported institution of higher education, the HSC must follow the laws and procurement policies set forth in the Texas Government Code, Texas Administrative Code, Texas Education Code and Texas Human Resources Code. All procurements must comply with The Texas A&M University System Policies and Procedures regarding procurement code and participation by HUBs. Each procurement transaction must be fully documented and documents retained in accordance with the A&M System retention schedule.

More information is available by calling the HUB Program and Procurement Services at (979) 458-7282 or online at http://www.tamhsc.edu/departments/finance-admin/hub.

SRPH Dr. Phillips appointed to CPI executive committee

Charles Phillips, Ph.D., M.P.H., Regents Professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, recently was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Council of Principal Investigators (CPI), an elected body of research-active faculty from throughout The Texas A&M University System.

“Dr. Phillips is a very valuable member of the CPI Executive Committee, always ensuring that we consider issues from the HSC perspective,” said Nancy Amato, Ph.D., Executive Committee chair. “The principal investigators from the HSC could not ask for a better advocate.”

Representing faculty from the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University, the Council of Principal Investigators is committed to fostering the Texas A&M research community goal of being nationally recognized and competitive for research and teaching. The Executive Committee consists of 10 members and advises the chair on CPI activities.

HSC recognized by Anuncio for supporting digital health care content

The Texas A&M Health Science Center was among the 2009 Digital Green Award winners from Anuncio for supporting health care content shown on digital signage networks.

The award was formally presented recently by David Morgan, Anuncio CEO and co-founder, to Alicia Dorsey, Ph.D., HSC vice president for program development and community outreach, and Jim Joyce, Ph.D., HSC associate vice president for research administration and commercialization.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center has an agreement with Anuncio for joint health care digital content development. The content is shown on Anuncio’s digital signage displays at its health care locations as an extension of its public health care education and information messaging program.

“We are honored to receive this digital green award,” Dr. Dorsey said. “In providing the finest in health education, promotion and care, the Texas A&M Health Science Center participates in activities that are at the forefront of health care communication such as environmentally friendly digital imaging.”

Other digital content award winners were the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and Komen for the Cure Foundation. CHRISTUS Spohn Healthcare System in Corpus Christi, College Station Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston and Cowles Clinic in Greensboro, Ga., were award winners for implementing digital health care signage networks.

Anuncio designs and develops digital display networks to meet messaging requirements of each marketing partner location. In addition to working with national health care content partners, it creates medical education content based on information provided by a Content Advisory Board of 11 physicians.

New footprints feature for passwords

The Office of Information Technology announces a new password reset tool as part of the Self Service Portal.

By registering with the password reset tool, users are able to reset their forgotten, expired or locked password from anywhere with an Internet connection. A tutorial is online at http://www.tamhsc.edu/information-technology/tutorials/changepassword-self-service/index.html