I've always wondered why Texas Tech has a strong presence in El Paso especially now since they have a medical school next to University Medical Center or Thomason. Why didn't the local politicians push the Legislature to give UTEP its own medical school instead of giving it to Texas Tech? Tech is 5 hours away in Lubbock, to me it's like Texas A&M having a medical school in Austin or UNT having a medical school in San Antonio. The UT System has medical schools, for example the prestigious UT Southwestern here in Dallas or the one in Houston. It should've been UTEP School of Medicine or at least UT West Texas or UT Border Medical School or something of that nature.

I'm not from El Paso and I don't follow the local politics and I know I can google it but I would like to hear it from the fine folks from El Paso on why Texas Tech got away with murder.

I'm not in El Paso but I worked at Texas Tech before the school was placed there. Texas Tech had always had residency programs for 3-4 year residents of the medical program. So you would go do 2 years in Lubbock and finish your last 2 years in El Paso working at Thomason aka University Medical Center for your practicing on patients, from what I remember it gave the students more access to patients than Lubbock. That being said when the talk about doing a full blown medical school it only made sense to expand the program already in place at the Texas Tech Clinics in El Paso.

(05-19-2014 12:54 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'm not in El Paso but I worked at Texas Tech before the school was placed there. Texas Tech had always had residency programs for 3-4 year residents of the medical program. So you would go do 2 years in Lubbock and finish your last 2 years in El Paso working at Thomason aka University Medical Center for your practicing on patients, from what I remember it gave the students more access to patients than Lubbock. That being said when the talk about doing a full blown medical school it only made sense to expand the program already in place at the Texas Tech Clinics in El Paso.

Thanks for the reply. But if I was representing El Paso at the state or national level (politics), I would push for UTEP to take over the medical school. I would thank Texas Tech for the years they serviced El Paso but the community would be better served if UTEP or at least a UT System school took over the medical school. I know it would be a huge battle since Texas Tech alumni have so much influence and support in the Legislature but at least it would be a start.

(05-19-2014 01:15 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(05-19-2014 12:54 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'm not in El Paso but I worked at Texas Tech before the school was placed there. Texas Tech had always had residency programs for 3-4 year residents of the medical program. So you would go do 2 years in Lubbock and finish your last 2 years in El Paso working at Thomason aka University Medical Center for your practicing on patients, from what I remember it gave the students more access to patients than Lubbock. That being said when the talk about doing a full blown medical school it only made sense to expand the program already in place at the Texas Tech Clinics in El Paso.

Thanks for the reply. But if I was representing El Paso at the state or national level (politics), I would push for UTEP to take over the medical school. I would thank Texas Tech for the years they serviced El Paso but the community would be better served if UTEP or at least a UT System school took over the medical school. I know it would be a huge battle since Texas Tech alumni have so much influence and support in the Legislature but at least it would be a start.

That's where Grandma Natalicio dropped the ball, I really don't think you can just "steal" a medical school away. Needless to say why doesn't UTEP try to have a law school or something before another school comes in and beats them to it?

(05-19-2014 02:11 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  

(05-19-2014 01:15 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(05-19-2014 12:54 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'm not in El Paso but I worked at Texas Tech before the school was placed there. Texas Tech had always had residency programs for 3-4 year residents of the medical program. So you would go do 2 years in Lubbock and finish your last 2 years in El Paso working at Thomason aka University Medical Center for your practicing on patients, from what I remember it gave the students more access to patients than Lubbock. That being said when the talk about doing a full blown medical school it only made sense to expand the program already in place at the Texas Tech Clinics in El Paso.

Thanks for the reply. But if I was representing El Paso at the state or national level (politics), I would push for UTEP to take over the medical school. I would thank Texas Tech for the years they serviced El Paso but the community would be better served if UTEP or at least a UT System school took over the medical school. I know it would be a huge battle since Texas Tech alumni have so much influence and support in the Legislature but at least it would be a start.

That's where Grandma Natalicio dropped the ball, I really don't think you can just "steal" a medical school away. Needless to say why doesn't UTEP try to have a law school or something before another school comes in and beats them to it?

Something similar happened in Fort Worth. Texas A&M took over Texas Wesleyan's Law School. I don't know the details why it happened but I know a student there who was excited her law degree will have A&M on it instead of TWU.

As for Natalicio, yes, she dropped the ball on that one and you're right about the law school. I wouldn't be shocked if A&M tries to open one in El Paso. Back when I attended UTEP in the late 90's, I wondered why a city of El Paso's size didn't have a law and medical school and a children's hospital. Two of those three are there now but I guess it's better to have those under different names instead of UTEP's than none at all.

There was a long thread about this at the city data forum. I'll try and find it when I'm in front if a computer.

I worked at UMC for 9 years.

It was only a natural progression for TX Tech. But El Paso was sold on it because it was to extend care, induct more El Paso kids into medical school, increase physician retention in a Medically Underserved Area (MUA), and help anchor the Medical Center of the Americas.

Unfortunately, UMC and TX Tech are arguing about everything now, TX Tech has partnered with an aggressive "for-profit" system for the new far westside hospital, and dilute a westside market that has Sierra, Providence, and Las Palmas, spiraling downward in volume (eastsiders now stay in the eastside for their inpatient medical care, and the ambulance system no longer allows choice of facility).

At any rate, the school's intent was a noble one, but has taken a left turn at Albuquerque. UTEP was not/nor is in position to launch it, and I doubt UT-Austin would allow it.

There is another Medical School in the formulation stages.

I had inquired with Baylor, UT-Southwestern, and UTMB about looking into expanding into El Paso. At the time, they were looking at option..... Then I left my old business development job, and nothing has happened.

Long story, but other options are being considered and kicked around. UTEP is never in the mix.... Sad to say