Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center received approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish the Abilene campus as a Regional Academic Health Center or RAHC.
Under the THECB rules, a RAHC is defined as a special purpose campus of parent health-related institution(s) that may be used to provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education including residency training programs, or other levels of medical education in specifically identified counties.
In January 2006, the Coordinating Board authorized TTUHSC to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) at a satellite campus in Abilene. TTUHSC partnered with the Abilene Community Partners (ACP) which included the City of Abilene, the Economic Development Corporation of Abilene, Hendrick Medical Center, Sears Methodist Retirement Centers, the Dodge-Jones Foundation, the Dian Owen Foundation and the Shelton Family Foundation.
In fall 2008, the TTUHSC Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing admitted students to its online accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the Abilene satellite campus. In July 2009, the THECB approved the Perry School of Nursing’s request to admit 20 traditional BSN students at its Abilene campus.
Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene partnered with TTUHSC to increase the number of BSN-prepared nurses at the facility and has provided startup support. Cisco Community College (Abilene campus) provided nursing students with access to its clinical simulation center.
Elmo Cavin, interim TTUHSC president, said TTUHSC’s mission is to provide first-class health care facilities and practitioners to the people of West Texas.
“There is a great demand for nursing and pharmacy professionals in Texas. Abilene is a true example of how a community can come together for the greater good by providing better health care and health care education for the people of West Texas. We thank the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for also recognizing the importance of expanding pharmacy and nursing educational opportunities in West Texas.”
The proposed name would be Abilene Regional Health Center of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
