College of Public Health

Dean Kurz advises on state public health committee

December 7, 2012 • Uncategorized

CPH Dean Richard S. Kurz, PhD, (back row, second from left) attended a recent meeting of the Public Health Funding and Policy Committee of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in Texas City, Texas, hosted by the Galveston County Health District. This committee was formed as a result of Senate Bill 969 during the 82nd legislative session 2011 and consists of nine public health professionals representing local and regional health departments, local health authorities and schools of public health, all of whom were appointed by DSHS Commissioner David Lakey, MD, MPH.

The committee’s role is to advise on public health funding and policy issues in Texas and other areas impacting public health at the local and regional levels. Since the first meeting in October 2011, the group has convened monthly in different areas of the state to hear from local public health leaders and elected officials on a variety of issues and opportunities.

Pictured here with Dr. Kurz are (left to right):

Back row – Paul McGaha, DO, MPH, Regional Medical Director, DSHS Health Service Region 4/5N, Tyler; Dr. Kurz, representing the UNT Health Science Center College of Public Health; Stephen Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A., Director of the Houston Health and Human Services Department; Craig Blakely, PhD, MPH, Dean, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health; Mark Guidry, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer and Health Authority for the Galveston County Health District.

Front row – William “Chip” Riggins, MD, MPH, Health Authority and Executive Director for Williamson County and Cities Health District; Victoria Yeatts, MSN, RN, Public Health Administrator for City of Garland Health Department; Deb McCullough, FNP, Director, Andrews City-County Health Department; and former committee member Sandra Delgado, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director, DSHS Health Service Region 8, San Antonio.

For more information, visit the Committee’s website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/phfpcommittee/default.aspx