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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Under the leadership of its current president, Dr. |
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James T. Willerson, The University of Texas Health Science Center |
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at Houston is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the most comprehensive health science centers |
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in the southwestern United States, the UT Health Science Center |
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incorporates schools of medicine, dentistry, public health, |
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nursing, biomedical science, and health informatics, and a |
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psychiatric hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the Health Science Center's inception in 1972, |
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the institution has made significant contributions to the education |
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of the health care workforce in Texas; over the years, more than |
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29,000 students have earned their degrees there, and at present the |
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center's student body numbers over 3,600, the largest enrollment of |
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any health education institution in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The UT Health Science Center provides invaluable |
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services to improve the health status of countless Texans as well as |
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people throughout the world; the institution is located in the |
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Texas Medical Center, which receives a combined 5.5 million patient |
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visits a year; and |
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WHEREAS, The research staff of the various divisions of the |
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UT Health Science Center have dedicated themselves to advancing |
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medical knowledge in myriad ways; the School of Public Health and |
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its five regional campuses have instituted an important program to |
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fight childhood obesity; scientists at the Brown Foundation |
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Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Disease |
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are working to identify the causes and find cures and prevention |
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strategies for hypertension, stroke, and heart disease; the Center |
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for Clinical and Translation Sciences aims to apply new advances in |
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science to real world practice with the benefit of a $36 million |
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grant from the National Institutes of Health; also in the works are |
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a new home for the UT Dental Branch, a center for biomedical |
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research focusing on regenerative medicine, and an advanced imaging |
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facility; and |
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WHEREAS, In order to improve health and educate the public, |
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the UT Health Science Center has collaborated with such |
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institutions as the Children's Learning Institute, Memorial |
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Hermann Health Care System, the Texas Heart Institute, the |
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Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, the Harris County |
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Hospital District, the Tex Gen Project, and others; and |
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WHEREAS, President of the Health Science Center since 2001, |
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Dr. James Willerson is a recognized world leader in the use of adult |
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stem cells in repairing damaged heart tissue; during his tenure, he |
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has recruited exceptional researchers, students, and faculty, |
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raised $670 million in contributions, and overseen the improvement |
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and construction of campus facilities; his integrity and |
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professionalism set the standard as the center renews its mission |
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to improve the health and quality of life for all people through |
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education, research, and clinical practice; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. James Willerson and The |
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University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston on the |
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center's 35th anniversary and extend to its researchers, faculty, |
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students, and staff best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Willerson and the Health Science Center as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |