Supporting Health Care For Rural Texans
The Rural Engagement Program at Texas A&M Health supports small-town health care providers in delivering high-quality care to the rural communities they serve.
The program brings together:
• College of Medicine
• College of Nursing
• College of Pharmacy
• Rural and Community Health Institute
Broadening access and fortifying delivery
Health Care Workforce Expansion
Attracting, developing, supporting and retaining talented health care professionals who practice in rural communities
Operation & Financial Viability
Comprehensive operational, financial, and workforce expansion technical assistance for rural health care facilities
Program activities
Technical Assistance
We work alongside health care organizations to implement sustainable action plans that improve:
- Financial performance
- Operational efficiencies
- Quality and safety
- Service line development
- Workforce development opportunities
- Value-based care support
- Virtual care management support
lackeyrn@tamu.edu, 979.436.0409.
Medicare Advantage Community Education Project
Value-Based Care
We provide operational and technical assistance to strengthen and grow rural health’s value-based care through work with providers, hospitals and existing programs.
We provide support in enabling the transformation of care delivery. Our services encompass performance improvement, financial assessment, digital transformation, and strategic alignment of incentives and business models.
Contact Reyann Davis for more information: reyanndavis@exchange.tamu.edu, 979.436.0394.
Expanded Rural Workforce Support
We strengthen the rural health workforce in Texas by addressing the critical shortage of health care professionals in underserved areas. Through this activity, we aim to attract, educate and retain talented individuals in the health care workforce through:
- Rural clinical experiences for Texas A&M medical, nursing and pharmacy students
- K-12 health career exposure activities
- Workforce development and evaluation
- Community engagement
- Scholarship opportunities for rural nurses seeking advanced education
For more information, contact the following individuals:
College of Medicine: Cassie Shelton, shelton@tamu.edu, 979.436.0536
College of Nursing: Kim Hudson-Gallogly, khgallogly@tamu.edu, 404.376.5205
College of Pharmacy: Asim Abu Baker, abu-baker@tamu.edu, 361.221.0660
Telehealth Network/ECHO
This activity focuses on the expansion of telehealth capabilities through professional development and increased access to telebehavioral health programs and counseling in Texas communities.
Specifically, we aim to:
- Increase rural community access to behavioral health
- Expand tele-educational professional development offerings
- Increase mental health access in rural areas
- Connect providers to Texas A&M mental health experts
Contact Carly McCord for more information: cmccord@tamu.edu, 979.458.9990.
Our Team
Asim Abu Baker, PharmD
Associate Dean for Clinical and Professional Affairs
Office of Experiential Education
Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
Full bio
Cassity Avila, MS
Program Coordinator
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Carol Brewer, MEd
Assistant Director of Rural School District Relations
College of Medicine
Reyann Davis, MPH
Director, Value-Based Care
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Steven Deanda
Program Manager
Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
Curtis Donaldson
Director of Operations for Rural Medicine Outreach
College of Medicine
Jana Harrison, MAEd
Workforce Coordinator, West Region
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Kim Hudson-Gallogly, PhD, WHNP-BC, CNE
Director of Rural Health Initiative
College of Nursing
Full bio
Melissa Lackey, MSN, RN, CPPS
Director, Technical Assistance
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Carly McCord, PhD
Executive Director, Texas A&M Telehealth Institute, Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Associate Professor, School of Medicine and School of Education
Graduate Faculty, College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Fellow, College of Architecture
Full bio
Justin Perkins, FACHE
Regional Health Operations Liaison
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Cassie Shelton, RN, BSN
Director of Operations for Rural Medicine
College of Medicine
John Stewart
Regional Health Operations Liaison, East Region
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio
Heather Vasquez
Administrative Associate V
Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
Angie Wilson, BSN, RN
Regional Health Operations Liaison, West Region
Rural and Community Health Institute
Full bio