Distinguished Alumni

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Chapman University

Dr. Rachita Sumbria is a tenured Professor at Chapman University School of Pharmacy and a Project Scientist at the University of California, Irvine. An alumna of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (2010), her doctoral research on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in ischemic stroke under Dr. Ulrich Bickel laid the foundation for her independent career. She completed postdoctoral fellowships under Dr. William Pardridge, a world authority on BBB drug delivery, and Dr. Mark Fisher, founding director of the UC Irvine Stroke Center, before establishing her own laboratory in 2014.

Dr. Sumbria's research focuses on the mechanisms and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and its modifiable risk factors, including alcohol intake. Her work is supported by substantial NIH and foundation funding, and she has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. She serves on NIH grant review panels and on the editorial boards of scientific journals.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Sumbria has received multiple Teacher of the Year awards and has guided over 50 students and trainees throughout her career. Through her involvement with Soka Gakkai International, she brings her commitment to dialogue, service, and humanistic values into the broader community. Her contributions have been recognized with Chapman University's 2025 Valerie Scudder Award and 2024 Women of Distinction Award.

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System Director, Clinical Pharmacy & Drug Strategy; System Director, Oncology Pharmacy & Biosimilars – Providence Health & Services

Dr. Wood is a pharmacy executive and innovative healthcare leader dedicated to advancing patient care, clinical excellence, and responsible stewardship of healthcare resources. He currently serves as a System Director of Pharmacy for Providence Health, one of the nation's largest health systems, which includes Covenant Health in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Wood is a board-certified specialist who provides strategic leadership for enterprise drug strategy, clinical pharmacy practice, oncology pharmacy services, biosimilar adoption, cell and gene therapy initiatives, contracting, formulary, and medication utilization management across a network of more than 50 hospitals across seven states.

Dr. Wood has led numerous system-wide initiatives that enhance access to life-saving therapies while improving quality, safety, and financial sustainability. His work has helped shape organizational approaches to oncology care, specialty pharmacy, value-based medication management, and emerging therapeutic innovations. Recognized for his collaborative leadership style and subject matter expertise, he partners closely with physicians, pharmacists, executives, finance leaders, and industry stakeholders to develop strategies that improve outcomes for patients and communities.

As a graduate of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Dr. Wood remains committed to professional development, mentorship, and advancing the pharmacy profession. He serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy and is pursuing his MBA at the Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business.

Through a career focused on service, innovation, and leadership, Dr. Wood continues to champion the evolving role of pharmacists in transforming healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes across diverse care settings.

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Chief Pharmacy Officer, University Medical Center, Lubbock, Texas

Raised in Nazareth, Texas, Dr. Armstrong is deeply committed to the Texas Panhandle and South Plains regions. After gaining valuable experience within both the Parkland Health System and Baylor Scott & White Health System in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, she returned to West Texas to contribute meaningfully to the health of the communities she calls home. 

Her career progression, from clinical pharmacist to Chief Pharmacy Officer within the University Medical Center Health System, reflects both her professional excellence and her dedication to advancing care locally.  With more than 26 years of pharmacy experience, she has consistently focused her efforts on expanding access to care, improving medication affordability, and addressing health disparities, particularly in rural and underserved populations.  

Dr. Armstrong has achieved distinguished professional success through visionary leadership that has fundamentally transformed pharmacy services within the UMC Health System. As the Chief Pharmacy Officer, she oversees pharmacy strategy, business development, and clinical service expansion across acute care, ambulatory, and community pharmacy settings.  During her tenure at UMC, Dr. Armstrong has maintained oversight of the inpatient pharmacy and led the development and implementation of multiple high-impact programs, including a specialty pharmacy, medication therapy management (MTM) clinic, discharge pharmacy, and two new community pharmacies. 

These initiatives have reshaped care delivery by creating a seamless continuum of pharmacy services that improve care transitions, enhance patient access, and align pharmacy services with UMC priorities.  Her leadership has not only modernized pharmacy operations but has positioned UMC as a regional leader in innovative, patient-centered pharmacy care.
 

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TV+FA Grant Program Supervisor, Texas Veterans Commission

Steven has dedicated more than a decade to supporting health centers, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies in developing and implementing effective public health programs. Driven by a passion for service, he has focused much of his career on helping fellow veterans access the benefits and resources they have earned.

His experience includes five years in veterans’ services at StarCare Specialty Health System followed by his current role as supervisor of the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program for the Texas Veterans Commission. In recognition of his leadership and community impact, he was named one of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce's Top Twenty Under 40 honorees in 2024.

“I am grateful for the education and opportunities TTUHSC provided. I am especially thankful for the people I met in the public health program, particularly my mentor, Dr. Lisa Gitter, who encouraged me to think critically, serve compassionately, and pursue meaningful change.
 

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Associate Professor and Center Director of the George McMillan Fleming Center for Healthcare Management at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Dr. Ginger J. Raya, EdD, MHA, MPA, serves as Associate Professor and Center Director of the George McMillan Fleming Center for Healthcare Management at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She leads executive education and workforce development initiatives while partnering with healthcare organizations, government agencies, and industry leaders to prepare healthcare executives.

A graduate of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program, Dr. Raya has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare operations, executive leadership, and higher education. Prior to joining UTHealth, she held executive leadership positions with HCA Healthcare, where she oversaw physician practice operations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and strategic initiatives supporting more than 100 physicians and 25 ambulatory clinics while improving operational performance, patient access, and organizational growth.

In 2026, Dr. Raya was appointed by the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to represent the University of Texas System on the Texas Rural Hospital Officers Academy Advisory Committee. Working alongside leaders from HHSC, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Department of Insurance, the State Auditor's Office, university partners, and rural healthcare organizations, she helps develop a statewide executive leadership program created under House Bill 18 to strengthen leadership, governance, and long-term sustainability for rural hospitals throughout Texas.

Dr. Raya serves as President of ACHE of the Southwest, where she has led nationally recognized membership growth and regional collaboration, and as Chair of the El Paso Chamber Healthcare Coalition.

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Senior Bioinformatics Scientist at SUNY Upstate Medical University

Ratilal Akabari is a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist at SUNY Upstate Medical University with more than a decade of experience applying bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing to molecular diagnostics and precision medicine. His work focuses on turning complex genomic and biomedical data into practical solutions that improve laboratory testing, research, and patient care.

At SUNY Upstate Medical University and Moffitt Cancer Center, Akabari has led the development and validation of next generation sequencing pipelines, molecular assays, and automated clinical workflows. His contributions have improved mutation detection, strengthened quality control, reduced turnaround times, and helped clinicians and researchers access genomic results more efficiently. During the COVID 19 pandemic, he also helped develop diagnostic assays and built an informatics workflow that expanded testing capacity across Upstate New York.

His current research explores how artificial intelligence can accelerate drug discovery and repurposing. Using AlphaFold 3, machine learning, and high performance computing, he develops large scale approaches for modeling interactions between thousands of proteins and therapeutic compounds. His work evaluates how emerging AI technologies can be applied responsibly and effectively to address complex biomedical challenges.
Akabari also contributes to national efforts shaping the future of artificial intelligence in molecular medicine through the Association for Molecular Pathology Informatics Subdivision Committee and Artificial Intelligence Task Force. He serves on editorial and academic advisory boards and is an active lecturer, mentor, reviewer, and speaker. His career reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the responsible use of technology to advance human health.

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Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Eagle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh with secondary appointments in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Department of Neurobiology. Dr. Eagle's research focuses on the assessment and management of traumatic brain injury to inform personalized treatment approaches and improve long-term patient outcomes. Dr. Eagle's research has been supported by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, and the American College of Sports Medicine. He has published over 175 scientific papers in prestigious journals like JAMA Network Open, Neurology, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and Sports Medicine. Dr. Eagle serves the scientific community as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Athletic Training and Neurosurgery.

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Owner and Audiologist of Pathway Audiology

Marisha Beck, Au.D., CCC-A is the Chief Executive Officer and Audiologist at Pathway Audiology in Big Spring, Texas. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences and Doctor of Audiology degrees from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Beck has served in private practice and Veterans Affairs healthcare settings. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she teaches Professional Issues and Practice Management and mentors future audiologists through hands-on clinical workshops.

In 2026, Dr. Beck founded the Pathway Audiology Better Hearing Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hearing health care for seniors and disadvantaged communities locally and abroad. The foundation secured its first $30,000 grant to expand hearing accessibility in Howard County by placing Auracast transmitters in local churches and public venues. Additionally, the grant will provide funding to purchase 20 hearing aids for qualifying seniors in Howard County. She is currently in the planning phase of a medical mission trip to Guatemala in Summer 2027.

Dr. Beck has been recognized as Big Spring's Reader's Choice Best Audiologist Office for seven consecutive years and twice honored as the Greater Big Spring Rotarian of the Year (2022, 2026). Beyond her professional work, she is deeply committed to community leadership and service, serving on numerous nonprofit and educational boards, including Howard College Board of Trustees, the Southwest College for the Deaf Foundation, Runnels Academy School Board and the Greater Big Spring Rotary Club.
 

Partner at Memorial Cardiology Associates

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  Graduated TTUHSCS 1984

• Residency in Internal Medicine 1984-1987
• Chief Resident in Internal Medicine 1987-1988
• School of Medicine Admissions Committee 1986-1988
• Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease  UTHSC-Houston 1988-1991
• Private Practice, Memorial Cardiology Associates 1991-2026
• Chairman, Memorial Hospital System Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Served as Head of Cardiology Section at Memorial Hospital Northwest, Memorial Hospital,  Memorial City, and Methodist Hospital West.
• Currently serving as the Chairman of the Health Sciences Committee on the Foundation Board

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Associate Professor, TTUHSC

Steve Burgess, MD, MBA, is a hospitalist, medical educator, and the founder of CME Vacations. A 2008 graduate of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, he completed his family medicine residency in Amarillo, where he was elected chief resident and inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He has returned to TTUHSC as an associate professor, teaching and supervising the resident physicians who care for hospitalized patients.

Dr. Burgess founded CME Vacations after a large, outdated continuing education course convinced him that physicians deserved better. He built the company on a simple conviction: CME should be current, evidence-based, taught by clinicians who still see patients, and delivered in a way that respects the lives physicians lead outside of medicine. That vision now reaches thousands of healthcare professionals nationwide, with courses that consistently earn five-star reviews.

Just as central to his career is a long commitment to medical service abroad. He has joined short-term medical missions in Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Peru, served two months as crew physician aboard the ship Logos Hope, and travels each summer to AIC Litein Hospital in Kenya, teaching residents and caring for patients in an underserved community.

A board-certified family physician who earned his MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute, Dr. Burgess remains guided by the values that have shaped his work: clinical excellence, lifelong learning, service to others, and a healthy balance between medicine and a life well lived.

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Dana has had the privilege to serve on multiple local and state boards. She is a strong believer in giving back to her community and being a servant leader. She has served as a Board member, Board Treasurer and President of the Texas Association of Home Care & Hospice. She also served as a member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Executive Board of Directors and currently serves on the LCC Advocacy Committee. She is currently the Covenant Foundation Board Chair and serves on the Covenant Children's Council.

Dana has received numerous awards. She received The President's Club Award, Meritorious Award (twice) and Volunteerism Award for the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice. While working on her Doctorate of Nurse Practice at TTUHSC she earned membership to both the Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. Dana had the privilege of being chosen to testify at the Health Subcommittee of Congressional Ways & Means Committee ""Hearing on Ensuring Access to Quality Post-Acute Care"". Dana and her husband were chosen to receive the 2025 Spirit of Philanthropy Award - Lubbock. 

Dana, her husband Ronnie and their three sons own and operate multiple health care businesses. Dana is a Co-Owner and Administrator for BSA Compassion Home Care - Amarillo and Compassion Home Health Care - Lubbock. She is also the Co-Owner and COO for Advance Care Management - Lubbock, Co-Owner and Alternate Administrator for Compassion at Home - Amarillo and Co-Owner and Alternate Administrator for Compassion Personal Care Services - Lubbock.
 

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Medical Science Liaison in Solid Tumor Medicine with Takeda Oncology

Dr. Michelle Karlin, DNP, AOCNP®, FNP-BC, is an oncology clinician and Medical Science Liaison whose career reflects more than three decades of dedication to nursing, cancer care, education, research, and patient advocacy. A graduate of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice and has built a career grounded in bridging clinical practice and scientific innovation to improve cancer care.

Dr. Karlin’s oncology experience spans hematology and medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion services, oral anticancer therapy, and early-phase clinical research. She currently serves as a Medical Science Liaison in Solid Tumor Medicine with Takeda Oncology, engaging healthcare professionals across Texas and New Mexico and advancing scientific exchange in gastrointestinal and thoracic malignancies.
Her commitment to improving oncology care extends beyond the bedside. Dr. Karlin has contributed to clinical research, quality-improvement initiatives, and oncology education, including co-authorship of the Oncology Nursing Society Guidelines™ addressing adherence to oral anticancer medications. Her work has been recognized through honors, including Takeda’s Circle of Excellence and Patient Impact Award.
Throughout her career, Dr. Karlin has remained passionate about mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring that physicians,  advanced practice providers, and nurses have the knowledge and confidence to deliver exceptional cancer care. She credits Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with helping shape her commitment to lifelong learning, clinical excellence, and leadership. She is honored to be recognized as a Distinguished Alumna and to represent the values of Texas Tech through her continued service to the oncology community and the patients it serves.

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CEO Texas Nurses Association

Dr. Bumpus is a recognized policy and advocacy leader whose work has significantly strengthened nursing’s voice at the state and national levels. She has secured over $100 million in legislative investments to expand nursing education, scholarships, and workforce retention, and successfully advanced landmark workplace violence prevention laws and protections for healthcare workers. Her leadership extends to the Governor’s Healthcare Workforce Taskforce, where she contributed to 18 statewide recommendations shaping long-term workforce strategy. Through innovative “roadshow” engagements, she has mobilized thousands of nurses to participate in policy and advocacy, resulting in substantial growth in membership, grassroots engagement, and legislative influence. 

Dr. Bumpus has contributed to national nursing initiatives through leadership roles with the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, including chairing the Staffing Task Force and Legislative Team, advancing evidence-based staffing and workforce policy. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to translating frontline nursing perspectives into policies that improve care delivery and workforce conditions. 
Dr. Bumpus earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she also completed her MSN and BSN.

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Chief Nursing Officer & Executive Vice President, UMC Health System

Dr. Tammy Williams serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Vice President at UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas. With over 33 years of experience in nursing, Dr. Williams has dedicated her career to advancing patient care and nursing leadership.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lubbock Christian University and holds both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

In addition to her role at UMC, Dr. Williams has served in leadership capacities on numerous community boards, including the March of Dimes, Voice of Hope, Children’s Home of Lubbock, and South Plains Great 25 Nurses.

She is an active member of the Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, American Organization for Nursing Leadership, and the Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership, Dr. Williams is passionate about patient outcomes, exceptional patient experiences, and supporting frontline staff. 
Dr. Williams was named the 2023 Nexstar Lubbock Remarkable Woman and in 2026 was a YWCA Woman of Excellence.