Med school considers brain-injury program
February 26, 2009
Soldiers who return from war with devastating brain injuries are on the minds of those who run the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. The top administrator of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in El Paso on Wednesday said he has discussed a partnership with Beaumont Army Medical Center to develop a traumatic brain injury program.
Written by Stephanie Sanchez , The El Paso Times
EPCC President Richard M. Rhodes, UTEP President Diana Natalicio and Dr. José Manuel de la Rosa, founding dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, discussed improving higher education in El Paso on Wednesday during an event at the El Paso convention center. (Ruben R. Ramirez / El Paso Times )
EL PASO - Soldiers who return from war with devastating brain injuries are on the minds of those who run the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.
The top administrator of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in El Paso on Wednesday said he has discussed a partnership with Beaumont Army Medical Center to develop a traumatic brain injury program.
It would treat Fort Bliss soldiers not only for physical injuries of the brain but also for psychological disorders
EPCC President Richard M. Rhodes, UTEP President Diana Natalicio and Dr. José Manuel de la Rosa, founding dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, discussed improving higher education in El Paso on Wednesday during an event at the El Paso convention center. (Ruben R. Ramirez / El Paso Times )
brought on by war.
A second proposed research advance would create a sports medicine program. Medical students would work with athletes in high schools and at the University of Texas at El Paso.
The medical school founding dean, Dr. José Manuel de la Rosa, spoke to about 600 people at the State of Higher Education Luncheon at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center.
UTEP President Diana Natalicio and El Paso Community College President Richard M. Rhodes also spoke at the event, which was organized by the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.
"In terms of our current status, we have nine residency programs, nine educational programs for specialities," de la Rosa said. "We did open a new radiology residency program in 2008. We're looking forward to new programs."
The first 40 students admitted to the recently accredited four-year medical school will start classes in July. De la Rosa said the school plans to create a program to treat traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders, specifically working with soldiers returning from war.
Fort Bliss soldiers who return from Iraq often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
One example of the disorder might have been the death of former Fort Bliss Army Spc. Joseph Dwyer. He came to public attention after being photographed carrying a wounded boy to safety during the first days of the ground war in Iraq. His picture became a symbol of the Iraq war.
Dwyer died in July 2008 after apparently taking pills and inhaling fumes from an aerosol can. His friends said Dwyer had post-traumatic stress disorder. They said he returned from the war a different person, who had problems including drinking, sniffing inhalants and nightmares.
De la Rosa said the school plans to work with soldiers like Dwyer.
"We're seeing a lot of traumatic brain injuries in our soldiers returning, whether that's through IEDs (improvised explosive devices) or post-traumatic stress disorder. Whether they're physical problems or psychological problems, the brain is injured in war," he said.
"I think we are in a very very good position as the only level one trauma center in El Paso and with our history of working with the El Paso psychiatric center to address both of those issues," de la Rosa said.
Medical school officials, he said, have also discussed working with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and UTEP to develop a sports medicine program.
"Up until this point we've had generalist positions; this is our first step into specialty areas," de la Rosa said. "We need to have a diversity of patients for our physicians to practice with."
During the event, Natalicio said UTEP would continue to seek financial help from the Texas Legislature to become a tier-one university.
A tier-one university typically receives more than $100 million in federal research grants, has selective admissions and low student-faculty ratios.
Natalicio said UTEP now receives $50 million in grants.
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