Bill > HR1327

This resolution congratulates the inaugural graduating class of 40 students from the Hunt School of Dental Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, recognizing their significant achievements and contributions. Established in 2021 as the first new dental school in Texas in over 50 years, the school aims to address the dentist shortage in far West Texas, with approximately 18 percent of the inaugural class from El Paso and an estimated 43 percent expected to practice in the region. The school's unique educational approach involves students treating patients in their first semester, gaining hands-on experience under faculty supervision, with each student completing about 3,500 hours in the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, including over 900 hours performing procedures. The graduates achieved a 100 percent board exam pass rate, surpassing the national average, with 10 students securing dental residency positions at prestigious institutions like Yale University, Rutgers University, and the University of Washington. Additionally, each graduate earned a community health certificate that counts toward a master of public health degree. The resolution acknowledges the students' hard work, dedication, and perseverance, and extends sincere best wishes for their future professional endeavors.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HR1327