Leading Primary Care
Family Medicine Chair Brings Public Health, Academic Leadership Experience to El Paso
Dr. Alexis Reedy-Cooper aims to strengthen primary care and expand academic opportunities
When Dr. Alexis Reedy-Cooper talks about family medicine, she speaks about creating opportunities for others to grow.
Dr. Alexis Reedy-Cooper
As the newly appointed chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Family Medicine–Transmountain at Texas Tech Health El Paso's Foster School of Medicine, Dr. Reedy-Cooper brings a unique combination of engineering, public health and academic medicine experience. She now leads one of the institution's most community-centered specialties.
"Family medicine plays a critical role in addressing the health needs of our region," said Eric M. Rohren, M.D., Ph.D., FACR, dean of the Foster School of Medicine. "Dr. Reedy-Cooper brings the experience, vision and collaborative leadership needed to strengthen our educational programs, support faculty development and prepare the next generation of family physicians for the communities we serve. We are fortunate to have recruited Dr. Reedy-Cooper to Texas Tech Health El Paso."
Family medicine physicians are trained to offer comprehensive care for people of all ages, establishing an enduring, trusted relationship for patients throughout their lives. Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, the medical practice of Texas Tech Health El Paso, offers family medicine care at the Kenworthy clinic at 9849 Kenworthy St. in Northeast El Paso and the Transmountain clinic at 2000B Transmountain Road in Northwest El Paso. Services include preventive care, annual physicals, chronic disease management, acute illness treatment, vaccinations and routine health screenings.
Originally from Albuquerque, Dr. Reedy-Cooper developed an early interest in medicine. Experiences with physicians in infectious disease and public health helped shape her path.
"I became interested in understanding health not only at the individual level, but also at the community and systems level," Dr. Reedy-Cooper said.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, she completed a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, she worked in pediatric HIV research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Reedy-Cooper later earned her medical degree from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, and returned to Pennsylvania to for residency training in family medicine at Lancaster General Health.
Before joining Texas Tech Health El Paso, Dr. Reedy-Cooper held several leadership positions at Penn State College of Medicine. As the family medicine residency program director, she helped develop innovative educational programs, population health initiatives and evidence-based medicine curricula.
Now, she hopes to bring that experience to El Paso while helping position family medicine for future growth.
"What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to help build and unify family medicine at an important moment of growth and possibility," Dr. Reedy-Cooper said. "We have talented faculty, strong clinical and educational foundations, and tremendous potential."
Dr. Reedy-Cooper added, "Family medicine naturally operates at the intersection of patient care, education and community health. When those areas work together, we create better outcomes for our learners, our faculty and the patients we serve."
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in mentorship and service. During her tenure, Dr. Reedy-Cooper hopes to expand scholarly opportunities for faculty and residents. In addition, she plans to strengthen the primary care workforce and explore future educational initiatives, including rural training opportunities and fellowship programs.
"I often think of leadership like tending a garden," she said. "People do their best work when they have the support, trust and resources they need to grow. My goal is to create an environment where faculty, staff, residents and students can thrive."
That approach was shaped by mentors throughout her life and career. Among them was her mother, a longtime educator and school administrator, who demonstrated the importance of investing in people and leading with purpose.
As she begins her first year at Texas Tech Health El Paso, Dr. Reedy-Cooper says listening will be one of her most important responsibilities.
"Strong departments are built by helping people succeed and aligning their individual passions with a shared mission," She said.
Outside of work, Dr. Reedy-Cooper enjoys exploring our Borderplex with her husband and 6-year-old daughter. She also enjoys crocheting and recently developed a passion for photography inspired by the Franklin Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert landscape.
For Reedy-Cooper, returning to the Southwest represents both a professional opportunity, and a personal homecoming.
"There is a tremendous sense of momentum at Texas Tech Health El Paso," she said. "I'm excited to contribute to the institution's mission of improving health through education, patient care, research and community engagement."
About Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso
Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso is the medical practice of Texas Tech Health El Paso. It’s the region’s largest multispecialty medical group practice, with over 250 specialists providing world-class patient care for the entire family at several locations across El Paso. The clinics also serve as the active learning space for Texas Tech Health El Paso resident physicians and students. To learn more, visit ttpelpaso.com.
To make an appointment with a family medicine physician at the Transmountain clinic in Northwest El Paso, call 915-215-8400. To make an appointment with a family medicine physician at the Kenworthy clinic in Northeast El Paso, call 915-215-5500.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso provides medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focused on excellence in healthcare education, research and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.