More than 400 HSC students to participate in Aug. 20 White Coat Ceremony

By Diane Smith-Pinckney The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) will present white coats to more than 400 students during a rite of passage ceremony for future health care providers at Will Rogers Memorial Center Auditorium on Aug. 20 at 9 a.m.   Students from the Physician Assistant Studies program, Department of Physical Therapy, System College of Pharmacy, and Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) will receive coats during…

HSC mentoring program receives Inspiring Programs in STEM Award 

The National Research Mentoring Network-Resource Center program at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) has received INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award for advancing diversity, promoting equality, and building a stronger U.S. workforce. With the continuous hard work and dedication from the NRMN teams at HSC and Vanderbilt University, NRMN has provided…

TCOM medical student describes the importance of donning a white coat for the first time

By Sarah Hopkins Kendrick Lim’s white coat carries much symbolism – it is a reminder of a physician’s call to serve and a sign one should never give up on dreams.  In 2019, Lim had solid ambitions after graduation from Texas A&M University. He was either going to become a doctor or an engineer who creates medical devices to save lives.  Lim applied to graduate programs…

ZZ TOP to headline 2021 Legends Concert event to benefit HSC

By Alex Branch Texas trio and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, ZZ TOP, will be the featured artist for the 2021 Legends Concert Series – the signature fundraising event for The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC). The benefit, presented by JPMorgan Chase, will happen on October 4th at Dickies Arena. The show will go on…

New smartphone app provides real-time alcohol recovery support to homeless adults

By Sally Crocker A new smartphone application is helping residents of a Dallas homeless shelter combat problem drinking through an innovative program that uses machine learning to predict the feelings, triggers and situations that can lead to alcohol misuse. Scott Walters, PhD, Regents Professor at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort…

TCOM professor appointed to state council overseeing opioid settlement funds

John Mills, DO, a long-time HSC faculty member, has been appointed to serve on the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council by Governor Greg Abbott. Drug overdose deaths increased 34 percent in Texas from 2019 to 2020. The Council’s duties include developing the approved Texas list of abatement strategies based on the existing national list of opioid abatement…

Need advice about PA school? Check out these HSC students’ Instagram

By Diane Smith-Pinckney Jana Brown and Ashley Boehm are just like sisters.  They finish each other’s sentences. They chuckle in unison, both have male Tabby cats and both are second-year physician assistant students at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC).  “I literally could not go through school without Jana. It would just be impossible,” Boehm said, explaining how these relationships help balance…

Have you checked your social wellness? HSC experts say it’s key to a healthier life.

By Diane Smith-Pinckney Making sure a loved one is healthy often involves checking temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.  Now, experts at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) want families and friends to add social wellness to that list.  Taking care of one’s social wellness is a growing focus nationwide…

HSC partnership with rural Texas hospital boosts health literacy and cultural humility

By Alex Branch As Titus County grew into a COVID-19 hot spot last summer, Terry Scoggin realized the rural hospital he leads needed to make some big changes.   The east Texas county is 40 percent Hispanic — many drawn there by jobs in the manufacturing and food processing industry — but Titus Regional Medical Center lacked the…

TCOM student spends unforgettable week at the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic

By Steven Bartolotta In March, Olivia Tomasco’s phone rang and she saw “Palm Springs” on the screen, and her heart skipped a beat. The fourth-year Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine knew the call meant she was invited to spend a life-changing week at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Summer Institute for Medical Students learning about addiction, recovery and much more.   “When I answered the phone and…