(LUBBOCK) – Covenant Health System (CHS) announced today (Oct. 20, 2009) the establishment of the Covenant Health System Endowed Chair in Cerebrovascular Disease in partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine.
Jongyeol Kim, M.D., associate professor, TTUHSC School of Medicine Department of Neurology, was named to the chair position.
The endowed chair will immediately provide education and training for medical professionals at CHS and allow for research related to stroke and neurologic sciences.
Covenant Health System Interim President and CEO Jim Houser said stroke care has been identified as a clinical care area that could benefit from additional resources.
“After reviewing needs studies and receiving input from the medical staff, Covenant began building an important partnership with the TTUHSC School of Medicine” Houser said. “Covenant is committed to meet this important need which will enhance care for stroke patients.”
Already Covenant has many of the key components in place for a formal stroke program. Nicole Hines, MSN, serves as Covenant’s stroke coordinator and Dr. Ahmad Sabouni serves as medical director.
Dr. Steven Berk, TTUHSC Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, said this partnership with Covenant has assisted TTUHSC in creating a neurology department with the goal of establishing a neurology residency program.
“The program will attract faculty who can partner with Covenant medical staff to better provide care for stroke patients,” Berk said. “The Covenant Health System Endowed Chair in Cerebrovascular Disease will be an important element in providing the highest level of care to stroke patients in our region.”
David Seim, Chairman of Covenant Health System Board of Directors, said partnering with the TTUHSC School of Medicine will raise the bar for quality medical training and ultimately improve patient care in our community.
“After all, everything Covenant’s staff does is for their patients, and we feel that this partnership will truly make a difference,” Seim said.