Amarillo area business news and developments for Feb. 26, 2023
TTUHSC names Executive Director for Telehealth Technology and Innovation
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has named John Gachago, DHA, as the executive director for Telehealth Technology and Innovation.
As a pioneer in telehealth, TTUHSC has expanded and evolved the accessibility of medical care. Telehealth is a valuable vehicle to extend health care across the regions they serve and beyond. With Gachago’s leadership, TTUHSC will build on existing academic, clinical and rural telehealth platforms to establish a future Institute for Telehealth Technology and Innovation.
“In our effort to support rural health providers, our goal as a university is to develop and implement emerging telehealth and digital health adaptations to improve and expand access to care,” TTUHSC President Lori Rice Spearman, Ph.D., said. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Gachago to our team in this critical hire to help increase coordinated telehealth and digital health implementation and adoption. In his role, he will build upon the existing TTUHSC telehealth components in the clinical, academic, and rural health settings as TTUHSC stays at the forefront of advancements in these technologies.”
Of the 108 counties in the TTUHSC service region, 20 have no practicing physician and 11 have no physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Outside urban centers, there are very few specialty providers, resulting in many patients traveling long distances to seek medical care. TTUHSC has served more than 160,000 clinical telehealth visits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 500 clinic providers have accessed and used telemedicine.
In his role as executive director, Gachago will be responsible for oversight and strategic management of TTUHSC’s efforts in the advancement of comprehensive telehealth. He will expand the impact of telehealth to improve the health of those TTUHSC serves while cultivating a learning and working environment that encourages research, education, training and scholarship in telehealth.
Gachago is currently the DigiHealth senior technology consultant for the International Finance Corporation World Bank Group. He also is a current digital and technology advancement technology scholar and research fellow at the National Institutes of Health. As the co-founder and CEO of E-Health Solutions LLC, Gachago led the development of a Hybrid Telemedicine/Mobile Health App that was recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the best Mobile Health/Telemedicine solution in customer value delivery in 2018. While at E-Health Solutions, Gachago served as the senior level operational leader of telemedicine and mobile health implementation, coordination, training and leadership administration. Prior to that he worked as an eHealth consultant and telemedicine project director at eServices, Ltd./JWG Global Ltd.
Gachago received a Doctor of Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in international management from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Arts (BSBA) in International Business Administration and French from the American International College.
Bell completes Bahrain AH-1Z program of record
FORT WORTH – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has completed the AH-1Z program of record (POR) for the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bell delivered the final production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command in December of 2022. The first Bahrain AH-1Zs made their in-country debut during the Bahrain Air Show and six have been delivered in country. The final six helicopters will be prepared for shipment to Bahrain with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) before being transported to Bahrain in 2023.
“Congratulations to the Kingdom of Bahrain on obtaining the latest generation of the AH-1Zs,” said Mike Deslatte, Bell vice president and H-1 program director. “As a leader in the region, Bahrain’s defensive capabilities will be further bolstered by the advanced technologies of the Viper.”
The completion of the Bahrain AH-1Z program of record comes on the heels of Bell completing the U.S. Marine Corps program of record, signifying two major H-1 production milestones in one year. The AH-1Z Viper is Bell’s newest generation of dedicated attack helicopters manufactured by Bell. The U.S. Marine Corps currently operates the AH-1Z around the world, taking advantage of the minimal logistics requirements for shipboard and expeditionary operations.
For more about Bell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., visit www.textron.com.
Pantex accepting applications for STEM classroom grants
To kick off Engineers Week, which is held annually during the last week in February, Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) announced Monday that it is once again sponsoring five $1,000 grants for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in classrooms across the Texas Panhandle.
The goal of the grants, designated for grades K–12, is to foster advancement of STEM activities in the classroom and to help develop Pantex’s future workforce. CNS manages and operates Pantex and the Y-12 National Security Complex in East Tennessee. This is the second year that Pantex has offered STEM classroom grants to Amarillo and the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher and Wheeler.
Projects receiving grants in 2022 included robotics focusing on coding and development, the creation of hovercrafts, SNAP educational circuit kits to study curriculum topics, creating computer-controlled items with specific functions coded into the system, and even the start-up of a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) lab to explore STEAM careers. These projects create individual and team engagements, sparking imagination, creative thinking and the exploration of career opportunities for their futures.
Grant application information is available on the Pantex website. Applications will be accepted through March 20, 2023. Educators who are immediate family members of Pantex employees are not eligible to apply for or receive a grant.
Pantex staff will evaluate the grant applications and make recommendations for grant allocations. Once a final decision is made, five grants of $1,000 each will be made payable to the individual school and will be dispersed to the teacher or administrator in accordance with school protocol.
Grants will be awarded in April, and all funds must be spent by July 31, 2023.
USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program signup for 2023
COLLEGE STATION – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting Feb. 27 through April 7, 2023. CRP is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change and help agricultural communities invest in the long-term well-being of their land and natural resources.
Producers and landowners enrolled more than 5 million acres into CRP through signups in 2022, building on the acceptance of more than 3.1 million acres in the largest Grassland CRP signup in history. There are currently 23 million acres enrolled in CRP, with 1.9 million set to expire this year. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is aiming to reach the 27-million-acre cap statutorily set for fiscal year 2023.
Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more orto apply for the program before their deadlines. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
Dunkin' offers new menu offerings
AMARILLO – Despite predictions of a long winter, Dunkin’® is ready to awaken taste buds and energize guests for the upcoming spring season with its latest menu offerings. Today, the brand unveils new innovations, including the Caramel Chocolate Cold Brew and Carrot Cake Muffin, and it brings back the fan-favorite Chocolate Croissant and Member Exclusive Irish Creme Flavored Coffee. Dunkin’ is also launching a bevy of irresistible deals, from an expanded Dunkin’ Run menu to new Dunkin’ Rewards offers that are sure to fuel busy days and satisfy cravings at a great value.
Guests who aren’t Dunkin’ Rewards members yet can join the fun by creating a free account on the Dunkin’ app or visiting dunkinrewards.com. By doing so, they get access to Member Exclusives like Irish Creme and other secret menu items and can start earning points towards free food and drinks. To stay up to date on the latest happenings at Dunkin’, visit DunkinDonuts.com or subscribe to the Dunkin’ blog to receive notifications at news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.
Alaska pollock offered at Dairy Queen restaurants in Texas
BEDFORD, Texas – At DQ restaurants in Texas, the Alaska Pollock Country Basket and the Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich are back as the catch of the day. This offer is available starting February 27 through March 26, or while supplies last.
For more than 75 years, DQ restaurants in Texas have been friendly, gathering spots where fans enjoy delicious treats and eats and create fond memories. For more information about the Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council, visit dqtexas.com or follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for Feb. 26, 2023
