HCMP 1999

HCMP secured sponsorship from the Texas Department of Health. As a result, a non-clinical rotation became a permanent addition to the program.  The interns would volunteer their time and effort within an area of public health that interested them. In fall 1999, the new interns were Melissa Dziuk and Ki Joong Anh. 

The coordinators wanted to expand the number of students accepted to the program. However, the hospital volunteer services could not support more than two interns. With 1999 being the last year Volunteer Services at Brackenridge and Children's Hospital of Austin would sponsor the program, HCMP interns and coordinators sought advocates from faculty at the University of Texas at Austin and from past supporters.  The Health Professions Office was unable to sponsor HCMP. The coordinators were able to find several advocates at the University of Texas at Austin: Dr. Dee Silverthorne, zoology professor, Dr. Leanne Fields, microbiology professor, Dr. William Nethercut, classics professor, Dr.Larry Carver, Dean of Liberal Arts, Dr. Leslie Dean-Jones, classics professor, and Dr. Jeanne Lagowski, HPO Advisor.

Travis County Medical Society whose membership is ninety percent of the physicians in the Travis County area would co-sponsor with the Texas Department of Health.  HCMP would need to publish the program in journal to pool more physicians and promote private practice rotations.  Central Texas Medical Foundation required sponsorship from the University of Texas before committing to anything.