A proposal is under review for the Department to become a School of Health Administration by combining the Department with the Department of Health Services Research and adding the Texas Long Term Care Institute as a unique research and development wing of the school. These areas assigned to Health Administration, are currently operating with a single administrator. If approved, the School will become effective in Fall 2007.

Several faculty searches are in progress, including that of the School Director. Tenure-track positions are also being recruited for health administration, healthcare human resources and long term care administration. All of the tenure-track search committees are chaired by Dr. Jim Summers.

Dr. Eileen Morrison received the College of Health Professions Teaching Excellence Award for 2005-2006 and Professor Robert Mooney received the College’s Service Excellence Award.

Dr. Morrison has received a contract to edit a new edition of Health Care Ethics: Critical Issues for the 21st Century. This is her second book in health care ethics.

The fifth edition of Dr. Michael Nowicki’s Introduction to Hospital Accounting has been published. This is his second textbook on hospital finance or accounting.

Dr. Oren Renick served as executive editor for the third edition of The Ties That Bind. Its focus is service-learning and civic engagement for higher education.

Dr. Philippa Strelitz was selected to participate in the Cultural Competence Leadership Fellowship. She has attended a national conference and adapted her research plan in response to this opportunity.

The Long Term Care Institute, directed by Ms. Sandy Ransom since its inception, has been a part of the College since 1993. It is currently funding a study of the effects of aromatherapy in ten Texas nursing homes. It continues to support the benchmark service-learning programs of the Department – Mutual Adoption Pact, Safe at Home and Strong for Life.

Dr. Wayne Sorensen continues as a member of the Standards Committee of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and Professor Mooney serves in a similar capacity for the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.