Presidential Report

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	President hosts QEP town hall meeting for TTUHSC students TTUHSC students recently attended a town hall meeting called by President John C. Baldwin. Baldwin explained the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan and the SACS accreditation visit and answered questions on a variety of topics.
	TTUHSC, TTU research leads to improvements in oral hygiene Ted Reid, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, and colleagues at TTUHSC along with Julian Spallholz, Ph.D., professor of education and nutrition at Texas Tech University, recently collaborated with Selenium Ltd., and ClassOne Orthodontics to release a new orthodontic product line called SeLECT Defense, coated orthodontic brackets, ligature ties and closing chains that reduce plaque build up.
	TTUHSC participates in Community Engagement Conference The Texas Tech University System recently hosted the first Community Engagement Conference. Featuring speakers brought national perspectives on service learning, projects benefiting non-profit organizations, and how researchers can work with community leaders. President Baldwin welcomed the group to Texas Tech and spoke at the opening session about the Community Medical School.
	El Paso faculty member wins top prize from national organization German Hernandez, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine Division of Nephrology & Hypertension at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, recently was awarded first prize in the category of clinical sciences for his presentation, “The Prevalence of Lead Exposure in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in El Paso”. Hernandez presented his findings at the NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ Network of Minority Research Investigators Annual Meeting in Bethesda, Md.
	GRACE program encourages underrepresented youths to enter health care field For several years, the Center for International and Multicultural Affairs and TTUHSC student volunteers have mentored students at Iles Elementary School and O.L. Slaton and Atkins middle schools through the GRACE program. GRACE students participate after school in hands-on health and science activities.
	Perry SON leads state for 2008 graduation performance The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently announced the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing as No. 1 in the state for 2008 graduation performance with 96.43 percent of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing students graduating. Also, 86.86 percent of these graduates passed the NCLEX the first time.
	President teaches honors history course at TTU President Baldwin is teaching an honors course at Texas Tech titled Life and Times of HM King Edward VIII at Texas Tech University. Students in the class gain insight from Baldwin’s expertise and knowledge of English history.
	TTUHSC increases NIH funding, faculty recruits TTUHSC has made a number of key faculty recruits in the past two years. Virtually all of these new recruits are funded with one or more NIH grants. TTUHSC currently has approximately 45 NIH grants. It is projected that in 2009, TTUHSC will see a total in research expenditures of $31 million, up from 26 million in 2008. In response to the Federal Stimulus Package, TTUHSC has submitted a total of 148 grant applications.
	Kudos to our elected officials The 81st Legislative Session is under way in the State of Texas and TTUHSC extends a special thanks to our elected officials like State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, for their continued support of our institution.