Texas Health Institute

High-Quality Primary Care: A Path to Healthy Communities
2025-04-09 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Primary care is essential for a healthy community. Primary care teams manage chronic conditions, help prevent diseases, and detect health issues early when they’re easier to treat. Panelists will highlight the components of high-quality primary care and its contribution to improved health outcomes at a lower cost. Discover how high-quality primary care serves as the cornerstone of healthier individuals and thriving communities.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the connection between high-quality primary care and healthy communities.
2. Explore initiatives that cultivate healthier communities by prioritizing high-quality primary care.
3. Learn about TPCC’s policy priorities to advance high-quality primary care during Texas’ 89th legislative session.
This webinar is produced by the Texas Primary Care Consortium with support from Episcopal Health Foundation, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Association of Health Plans, TMF Health Quality Institute, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Speakers

Helen Kent Davis
‍‍Senior Associate, Health Policy, Texas Health Institute
‍Webinar Facilitator

Helen Kent Davis is the founder and principal of HKD and Associates, a health care consultancy providing policy analysis and strategy to help clients promote more accessible, equitable, and cost-effective health care. Among the issues on which she has expertise are Medicaid and the state’s health care safety net, public and private health care coverage, primary care, rural health, and women’s, perinatal, and children’s health. Prior to founding her own firm, Kent Davis worked at the Texas Medical Association for more than 30 years, most recently as the associate vice president of governmental affairs. At TMA, she earned a trusted reputation for her expertise, savvy understanding of Texas’ policy-making process and ability to develop effective partnerships, working together to improve health care delivery and outcomes. Away from work, she loves spending time with her husband, son and two dogs as well as swimming at Barton Springs, gardening and traveling.

‍Kimberly Avila Edwards, MD, MSHCT, FAAP
Associate Chair of Advocacy, Department of Pediatrics, UT Dell Medical School

‍Emily Briggs, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Family Medicine Physician, Briggs Family Medicine, PLLC
Emily Briggs, MD, MPH, FAAFP is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician in New Braunfels, TX, since 2009. She provides full-scope family medicine services, including operative obstetrics. Dr. Briggs received her medical degree in Family Medicine as well as a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas at Houston HSC. She has a longstanding history of actively serving with the AAFP, TAFP, AMA, and TMA. Currently she serves as Delegate for the American Academy of Family Physicians to the AMA, Delegate to the TMA House of Delegates for the LGBTQ Health Section, and recently completed her service as President then Board Chair of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. She remains a tireless advocate for women’s health issues and underserved and marginalized populations. Dr. Briggs remains active in her local community, including implementing a teen health summit. She is the TMA 2021 Young at Heart Award recipient and was recently awarded an honorary fellowship by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Briggs enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, exercising, and creating music in her spare time.

Primary Care at a Crossroads: Navigating Recent Policy, Budget, and Regulatory Changes
2025-10-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Primary care sits at the heart of a high-functioning health system, yet recent state and federal policy developments, including legislative actions from the most recent Texas legislative session and the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1), signal both significant opportunities and concerning threats for the future of primary care.

Texas Primary Care Consortium Summit
2025-10-23 08:00 - 2025-10-24 14:00 UTC
The 2025 TPCC Summit was held on October 23-24 in Austin, TX. With the theme of Advancing High Quality Primary Care, the summit explored systemic issues such as access to care, payment reform, and primary care workforce, and included conversations about behavioral health, rural health, maternal health, community-based interventions, interprofessional care, and more! The summit is a key step in our ongoing shared pursuit to advance high-quality primary care for all.

Building a Healthier Texas: Innovations in Diabetes Prevention Across Texas
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:15 (America/New_York)
In recognition of National Diabetes Month, this webinar highlights how healthy eating and nutrition-based care are transforming diabetes prevention across Texas. With diabetes rates up 40% in the past decade and thousands living undiagnosed, communities are turning to innovative models that link healthcare with nutrition access and education.
Panelists will discuss innovative solutions such as grocery support, nutrition counseling, and community health worker outreach, as well as best practices in how nutrition-focused interventions can improve outcomes, build trust, and prevent disease. Together, we’ll explore lessons learned and promising practices that demonstrate how local action and cross-sector collaboration can sustain progress in chronic disease prevention.

Watch Recording

Coverage and Primary Care in 2026: Early Insights and Impacts
2026-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 UTC

Whole-Child Health Starts Here: The Power of Oral Health
2026-02-26 11:00 - 12:00 UTC

Oral Health and the Perinatal Journey
2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Oral health is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the perinatal journey. Across the continuum from preconception through pregnancy and the postpartum period, there are multiple opportunities for care teams to identify risks, reinforce prevention, and coordinate care that supports both maternal and infant health.

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This webinar explores how oral health intersects with maternal and behavioral health, and how care teams across primary care, obstetrics, dental care, and community-based services can work together to deliver more connected, whole-person care. Emphasis will be placed on practical strategies to integrate oral health into routine perinatal care, strengthen referral pathways, and leverage care team members to improve outcomes. Key topics include:
• Integrating oral health into perinatal risk assessment and routine care
• Understanding the connection between oral health, maternal health, and birth outcomes
• Building effective referral pathways across medical, dental, and community-based clinicians
• The role of community health workers, doulas, and care coordinators in supporting continuity of care
Participants will gain:
• A deeper understanding of the relationship between oral health and maternal and infant outcomes
• Practical approaches to incorporating oral health into perinatal care workflows
• Strategies to strengthen care coordination across clinical and community settings
• Tools to support more integrated, patient-centered care throughout the perinatal period
This webinar is produced by Texas Health Institute in partnership with the Texas Primary Care Consortium, Texas Oral Health Coalition, and Rural Texas Maternal Health Assembly with support from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.
This webinar is Part 1 of the Integrating Primary Care, Oral Health, and Community Supports in Texas webinar series. For Part 2, “Whole-Person Care During and After Pregnancy,” visit https://texashealthinstitute.org/event/whole-person-care-during-and-after-pregnancy/

2026 Texas Oral Health Coalition Summit
2026-06-04 - 2026-06-05
Reignite, Rebuild, Reimagine: Oral Health for All

Whole-Person Care During and After Pregnancy
2026-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Maternal health outcomes depend on coordinated care across pregnancy and the postpartum period.

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This webinar highlights how integrated care teams, including dentists, primary care clinicians, behavioral health professionals, and community health workers, can support maternal and infant health. Key topics include:
• Oral health during pregnancy and its impact on maternal and infant outcomes
• Supporting infant health through maternal and early childhood oral health
Participants will gain:
• Greater understanding of integrated approaches to perinatal care
• Increased awareness of the clinical role of oral health and primary care in maternal outcomes
• Practical insights for strengthening referral pathways and care coordination
• Opportunities to connect with peers and experts working to improve maternal health across Texas
This webinar is produced by Texas Health Institute in partnership with the Texas Primary Care Consortium, Texas Oral Health Coalition, and Rural Texas Maternal Health Assembly with support from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.

Artificial Intelligence and Oral Health: Evidence, Policy, and the Future of Care Delivery
2026-08-13 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
