According to University of North Texas Health Science Center Foundation Relations Manager Zoe Metcalf,
“The University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC) has been part of the Fort Worth community for more than 50 years and yet, many don’t realize we’re here or aren’t familiar with our work. HSC is one of the nation’s most distinguished academic health centers, situated on a 33-acre campus in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. We train the health care providers of the future, while expanding the frontiers of scientific discovery. HSC Health, the clinical enterprise of HSC, provides patient-centered care to people across Tarrant County. We are dedicated to providing health care education and promoting health and well-being in the community.
“Did you know that our mission is to create solutions for a healthier community? Or that, as a values-based organization, we are focused on serving others first every day? You might ask yourself how a university lives up to those lofty ideals – isn’t our purpose to educate medical and allied health students? What does that have to do with caring for our neighbors, our community, and making Fort Worth healthier?
“One of our signature outreach efforts is our Pediatric Mobile Clinic. You may not realize that In Tarrant County, 11.8% of children are without insurance. The PMC provides high-quality health care to children living in underserved areas of Fort Worth. In partnership with Fort Worth Independent School District, where 85.4% of students are categorized as disadvantaged, the unit addresses common barriers to health care access experienced by many families in our community. In Tarrant County, the PMC is part of the health care safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. The PMC is the only pediatric mobile health provider in Texas that is deployed by a graduate school rather than a hospital or health care system and the only pediatric mobile health services provider in Tarrant County.
“A recent patient encounter demonstrates the true impact of this important work. Dr. Christina Robinson, medical director, saw a patient in clinic in December. The child, a seventh grader, exhibited signs of a serious genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis. Prior to visiting the PMC, the child had had no real routine or specialized care and this condition had not been diagnosed. The PMC team swung into action, reaching out to our collaborative partners to secure funds for proper treatment, and a pediatric neurologist who would be willing to treat him. We also connected the family to a State of Texas program for children with special medical needs, because he will need lifelong care and monitoring. Without the PMC, this young man may not have received important and life-changing care.
“The Pediatric Mobile Clinic is just one example of amazing work being carried out by faculty, staff, and students at HSC, work that we couldn’t do without your support. Every community has problems that need solving. Not every community has a champion like HSC! Join us in creating solutions for a healthier community through education, research and community outreach. Your gift makes a real difference right here in Fort Worth.”
* Photo credit: Zoe Metcalf ** Graphic/photo provided by UNTHSC
Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day helps build awareness and support for nonprofits like nothing else. In 2021, $66 million was raised through 103,000 donors benefiting over 3,300 local nonprofits, bringing the 13-year total to over $441 million for our community. NTxGiving Day is the largest community-wide giving event in the nation.
On Thursday, September 22, support UNTHSC Foundation by linking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay