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The Texas Tech University System is one of the largest university systems in the state of Texas. Furthermore, it includes a vast array of institutions, includes a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students, and serves a large geographical area. Angelo State University and Midwestern State University offer unique and necessary perspectives given their geographic locations, institution-specific research, and relationships with local leaders and healthcare providers. Texas Tech University is classified as a Hispanic Serving Institute and a Carnegie Tier One Research Institution. It’s diverse population, immense resources, and role as the intellectual and innovative center of West Texas make it ideal for a health policy and public health think tank. The TTU Health Sciences Center (both in Lubbock and El Paso) are largely responsible for the healthcare of underrepresented populations in diverse and underserved communities including predominantly Hispanic populations in El Paso, rural populations in West Texas, and the historically underserved communities of east and north Lubbock. Each of these communities have their own unique healthcare and public health challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the delivery of healthcare, especially in these underserved areas. ICU’s were at capacity, many hospitals were on diversion, and there was not enough personal protective equipment to go around. The West Texas region faced unique challenges spanning a large geographic area, with barriers to access large medical centers such as University Medical Center or Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. Doctors were forced to re-wear masks for multiple shifts at a time, gowns were disinfected between each COVID-19 positive room as there weren’t enough to go around, and ventilators were limited and reserved only for the sickest of patients. The larger medical centers, at capacity, left many rural hospitals to treat critical patients without the infrastructure, supplies, or PPE necessary to care for these patients.

The West Texas COVID-19 3D Relief Consortium was established to address some of these concerns. The Texas Tech University (TTU) Honors College became a makeshift workshop for the assembly of 3D printed face shields. The TTU Engineering Department came together to find innovative ways to create re-usable PPE to supply our health care workers. Ï㽶ֱ²¥ advised the consortium of the situation each hospital was facing, and the best ways to ease the burden on the healthcare system through the distribution of PPE. The West Texas COVID-19 3D Relief Consortium promoted collaboration across disciplines to support the medical community sacrificing their lives on the front lines each day, hoping to one day see the end to the virus.

It should not, however, take a pandemic to bring together our higher education community. The Texas Tech University system plays an integral role in the healthcare and public health of the greater West Texas Community. We saw the concrete, widespread impact that was made when our communities came together to address a worldwide PPE shortage that was impacting our region. Through this collaboration, or need for it, stemmed a question: does an entity exist to empower and serve West Texas communities in access to health care? Despite many higher education institutions and the TTU System spanning most of the region, no centralized entity existed. This is the premise behind the founding of the Texas Tech System Health Policy and Public Health Think Tank.

The future of Think Tank is aiming high, with a vision to be the preeminent think tank for health equity and access in rural and urban areas. The mission is simple, promote best practices in health equity and access throughout the Texas Tech University System and surrounding areas. In practice, this breaks down into two main goals: to foster collaborative research and volunteerism, and to promote advocacy and produce policy recommendations. These goals will be accomplished through focusing on four key areas: rural health, underserved populations in urban areas, interprofessional health education, and outreach to the communities we serve.

This will not be a traditional Think Tank, as its structure engages and empowers students. Students across the system will be at the forefront of the Think Tank’s endeavors, whether it’s research, advocacy, service, or policy. The faculty board, which includes among the most distinguished faculty members and administration of the TTU system, play an integral role by providing the Think Tank with direction, expertise, and support.

This Think Tank will serve to prepare greater West Texas for future pandemics and promote best practices in current daily practice in health equity and access to care.