NCTM participated in the Texas Healthcare Summit in Austin, Texas on June 4, 2014. With more than 250 people in attendance, including leaders and representatives from across the industry – BIO, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, venture capitalists, academicians and researchers, and policy makers – participated in an important dialogue about the key issues impacting the state’s progress to enhance the health care and bioscience industry in Texas.
Panel topics included Medicaid and payment reform, the Affordable Care Act, and venture capital investment. Keynote remarks were given by three major academic leaders from across the state’s higher education systems. Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall championed many of the life science policies in place today when he served in the State Legislature. Dr. Ron DePinho, president of MD Anderson Cancer Center, presented on the innovative approach the Moon Shots program is taking to achieve its ambitious goals to eradicate cancer. Dr. Brett Giroir, CEO of Texas A&M Health Science Center’s remarks focused on Texas’ changing life science landscape and evolving technology. His remarks described the existing projects with GlaxoSmithKline, and he also announced a partnership with Texas A&M Health Science Center and Dell Computers focused on establishing a health technology academy for the ever-evolving health professional workforce.
A few of the major recurring themes throughout the Summit were:
- Texas has a solid life science infrastructure,
- Texas must continue the momentum for innovation, and
- Texas’ potential for the next decade to come is enormous.
The nonpartisan event brought legislative officials and senior staff from both sides of the aisle including Representative Donna Howard and Representative John Zerwas. Staff members from the Texas Workforce Commission, Health and Human Services Commission and the Governor’s economic development division were also in attendance.