Dr. Deborah Birx becomes part of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock

Deborah L. Birx, the former White House coronavirus response coordinator, is joining the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. She will serve as the center’s presidential adviser and an adjunct professor at the Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health. President Lori Rice-Spearman expressed the university’s excitement to welcome Birx, highlighting her distinguished background in global health and her leadership in improving healthcare on a national scale. During the pandemic, Birx worked closely with state officials and former President Donald Trump to make decisions and provide public health guidance. She also has a significant background in HIV and AIDS, having served as the director of the CDC’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS and overseeing the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in 2014. President Rice-Spearman believes Birx’s expertise will be valuable in addressing health challenges, particularly in rural areas of West Texas. Birx’s position is partially funded by a gift from the Permian Strategic Partnership, a coalition of energy companies focused on various issues, including education, road safety, and healthcare in West Texas. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit organization that aims to inform and engage Texans on public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues.