Sandra K. Tyson, Ph.D.

Contact

styson@twu.edu
713-794-2363
HOU 7013

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Biography

Dr. Tyson is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Care Administration in the TWU College of Business in Houston, Texas. She earned her Ph.D. in public health from the University of Texas, School of Public Health, majoring in behavioral science and minoring in policy and epidemiology. Prior to earning her Ph.D., Sandra earned a M.A. from University of North Texas in applied anthropology (specializing in medical anthropology), as well as her B.A. in anthropology. She came to TWU with 14 years of experience in health care and in public health, with expertise in program evaluation, community health assessment, health care delivery, strategic planning, policy development and implementation, health promotion, and public health disaster response.
From 2005 to 2012, Dr. Tyson worked in various rolls in the conduct, analysis, writing, and presentation of research, in addition to consulting and teaching. Since then, she served 5 years as Executive Director of Healthcare Transformation Initiatives at the University of Texas Health Science Center, where she planned and led the implementation of 22 delivery system reform incentive program projects under the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver and another 21 projects under the Texas Medicaid Network Access Improvement Program. About 90% of the projects implemented were community-based primary and preventive care projects through U.T. Physicians (the practice arm of the U.T. McGovern School of Medicine), which included the building and staffing of 6 new clinics and a 24/7 nurse triage center that served all of the U.T. Physician clinics. The remaining projects were hospital-based in collaboration with Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Before coming to TWU, she also worked with Harris County Public Health to earn their accreditation and to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan. Prior to entering the field of health care and public health, Dr. Tyson was employed for several years by a local major oil & gas company, where she led the implementation of a world-wide patent tracking data system.
Although Dr. Tyson has had many titles in her life, her favorite one is “Nana” to six very special people. She also enjoys photography, travel, and her 2 canine fur babies.

Education

Ph.D., Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
M.A., Applied Anthropology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
B.A., Anthropology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Associate Degree, Liberal Arts, Lee College, Baytown, Texas

Expertise

Program Evaluation; Community Health Needs Assessment; Healthcare Delivery; Strategic Planning; Policy Analysis, Development, & Implementation; Health Promotion; Public Health Disaster Response

Recent Presentations

Using Alumni Survey and Employer Data to Identify Gaps and Strategies for Complex Learning Competencies: A Thematic Analysis
Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration Annual Meeting (2024)
Faculty Workshop | Sandra Murdock, Rigoberto Delgado, Sandra Tyson

Examining Burnout Amongst Healthcare Leaders: A Systematic Review
Texas Woman's University Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium (2023)
Virtual | Gracie Lawhorn, Jocelyn Kopchak, Sandra K Tyson

The Efficacy & Safety of Activated charcoal for Tooth Whitening: A Systematic Review
Texas Woman's University Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium (2022)
Virtual | Ernesto Rodriguez, Sandra K Tyson

Transition of diabetes care from adolescents to adults: A university practice experience
World Congress on Clinical Trials in Diabetes (2016)
Symposium | Michael Yafi, Michelle Rivera-Davilla, Sharif Mansur, Sem Lee, Ashely Mikulenka

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Healthcare Executives
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Medical Management Group Association
• National Association of Healthcare Services Executives
• National Association of Professional Women