The Texas Association for Advisors of Health Professions (TAAHP) is proud to announce the addition of two remarkable keynote speakers for the 2025 Conference: Dr. Stephen Pont, MD, MPH, and Dr. Adrian Billings, MD, PhD. Both leaders bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare in Texas. Their talks promise to inspire meaningful dialogue and action around strengthening the healthcare workforce and addressing critical disparities across the state.
Dr. Stephen Pont, MD, MPH, serves as the Medical Director of the Center for Public
Health Policy and Practice at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Dr. Pont co-founded Dell Children’s Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment
of Childhood Obesity, establishing nationally recognized family-based programs. On
a national scale, he co-founded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on
Obesity and has led initiatives funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), and Medicaid, including a groundbreaking childhood obesity
intervention linking primary care, schools, and community resources in Central Texas.
A graduate of UT Austin, UT Southwestern, and Vanderbilt University, Dr. Pont is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health with the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and Adjunct Associate Professor with Texas A&M College of Medicine. In 2017 he joined the Texas DSHS executive team and began serving as the Medical Director for the Office of Science and Population Health. He served as Acting State Epidemiologist during the COVID-19 response and continues as a member of Texas’ Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. Currently, he leads the DSHS Center for Public Health Policy and Practice, advancing health equity through initiatives in policy analysis, health economics, and performance management.
Dr. Pont’s plenary session will provide an in-depth analysis of the current state of healthcare in Texas, highlighting the workforce challenges and emerging trends that impact health outcomes. He will explore key actions being taken to fill the healthcare workforce pipeline, including education, policy, and community-based initiatives. Drawing from his extensive work addressing public health disparities locally and nationally, Dr. Pont will outline strategies to align public health efforts with workforce needs to ensure a healthier Texas.
Dr. Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, is the Associate Academic Dean of Rural Health at Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Permian Basin and a practicing full-spectrum
family medicine physician along the Texas-Mexico border. As Chief Medical Officer
for Preventative Care Health Services (PCHS), a federally qualified health center,
he provides care in Alpine, Marfa, and Presidio, Texas. He is also an Associate Professor
in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at TTUHSC-Permian Basin and serves
as Site Program Director for the TTUHSC Alpine Family Medicine Residency Program.
Dr. Billings has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the past Chief of Staff of Big Bend Regional Medical Center and as Medical Director for the City of Presidio Emergency Medical Services. He is a board member of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved and serves as Parliamentarian for the Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP), where he also directs the Texas Statewide Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. From 2015 to 2022, he co-led the Presidio-Ojinaga Binational Health Council, addressing cross-border health challenges.
Dr. Billings is deeply invested in training the next generation of healthcare providers. As co-Principal Investigator for a HRSA Hispanic Center of Excellence grant, he works to produce more Hispanic physicians in West Texas. He also leads a HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education Training grant, which funds stipends for licensed professional counselor students to train in rural areas. Additionally, he serves as a trustee for the Alpine Independent School District, further demonstrating his commitment to education and community development.
Dr. Billings’ plenary session will delve into strategies for engaging rural students and supporting their journey into healthcare careers. Drawing on his leadership of these initiatives, he will discuss the importance of mentorship, community partnerships, and targeted funding to build a robust rural healthcare workforce. His insights will provide actionable solutions for tackling rural health disparities and fostering equity in access to care.
Together, Dr. Pont and Dr. Billings represent two critical aspects of Texas healthcare: statewide policy and workforce development on one hand, and community-centered solutions for rural populations on the other. Their sessions will underscore the interconnected nature of these challenges and inspire advisors to more effectively reach and engage students.
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