Elko College

Elko College is named after Edward E. Elko, Ph.D. Dr. Elko’s career at the Health Science Center spanned more than 20 years in both faculty and administrative roles.  From 1975-1978, Dr. Elko was a guest lecturer at TCOM from the University of Tennessee medical school in Memphis.  In 1978, Dr. Elko was hired full-time at TCOM and joined the faculty in pharmacology.  While on faculty he was awarded M. L. Coleman Pre-Clinical Professor of the Year Award for 1988-89.

In addition to his work as a member of faculty, he served as Associate Dean for Basic Sciences from 1981-1986 and Associate Dean for Student Affairs from 1989-1996.

Upon his retirement from the institution in 1996, he was awarded the rank of Professor Emeritus.  In 1997, Dr. Elko was given the Mary E. Luibel Distinguished Service Award.

In his retirement, he has served as an accreditation site visitor for colleges of osteopathic medicine nationwide.  To date, he has done site inspections at 26 osteopathic medical schools.  Additionally, he has served as a member of the Board for the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.

Dr. Elko continues to volunteer his time at the Health Pavilion here on campus.

Elko College Faculty Director

Shane Fernando, Ph.D., M.S., C.P.P.S., F.R.S.P.H.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Shane.Fernando@unthsc.edu

Education/Training

Dr. Shane Fernando is a clinical pediatric epidemiologist in the Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health. He joined the UNT Health Science Center in 2014 as an Assistant Professor and has worked extensively with investigators within the University of North Texas Health Science Center, as well as initiating collaborations between external organizations and the Department of Pediatrics. In addition to his epidemiologic training, Dr. Fernando has extensive expertise in survey design and validation methods, epidemiologic study designs, and mixed-model analysis. He currently teaches medical students during their first, second, and third years. As one of the five primary clinical scientists in the Department of Pediatrics, he has managed numerous studies and has served as a dedicated mentor for all his students. Dr. Fernando has significant experience working with diverse populations having lived across 3 continents in his lifetime, and with his work with vulnerable populations in research, in which he received a fellowship from the Texas Center for Health Disparities. Dr. Fernando will be advising and working with Dr. Jay Roop’s former advisees for the 2024 Spring semester.

Elko College Faculty Advisors

Sandra Davis, MD
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine and Geriatrics
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sandra.Davis@unthsc.edu

Education/Training

University of Texas, Austin, Texas BA 05/1992 Biochemistry
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
Lubbock, Texas MD 05/1996 Doctorate in Medicine
Scott and White Hospital, Temple, Texas Residency 06/2000 Psychiatry

I am an experienced adult psychiatrist with 19 years of clinical expertise in various clinical environments including outpatient, residential, intensive outpatient and inpatient settings.    I am interested in clinical research trials.   Most recently, my active clinical practice in the Center of Geriatrics at University of Texas Health Sciences Center has been focusing on older adults with cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and psychosis.   I am enjoying teaching and advising students at TCOM.

Lawrence Swanson, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lawrence.Swanson@unthsc.edu

Education/Training

Dr. Swanson completed a BS in Science at Pennsylvania State University, followed by an MPH at the University of Pittsburgh. Subsequently, he earned an MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Swanson underwent Pediatric Residency training at Duke University, specializing further in Pediatric Endocrinology through a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is happy to be at TCOM in a clinical and teaching environment and looks forward to meeting his advisees and helping them achieve their goals.

Curtis Galke, DO, FAAFP
Professor and Chair
Department of Family and Osteopathic Medicine
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Curtis.Galke@unthsc.edu

Education/Training

Dr. Curtis Galke earned his B.S. from Brigham Young University and graduated from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. He completed his Family Medicine internship and residency at Scott Air Force Base and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2006. Dr. Galke served in the US Air Force and was on the founding faculty of St. Louis University’s Family Medicine Residency program. He has extensive experience as an Emergency Department physician and was a regional medical officer for the U.S. State Department. Dr. Galke has held various academic appointments, including Associate Program Director and Program Director at University of Texas Rio Grande and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UTRGV School of Medicine. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Department of Family and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Galke has authored articles in respected medical journals, received awards for Humanism in Medicine, and is a sought-after lecturer both nationally and internationally.