Simon Williams

Simon Williams, PhD, is a Full Professor in the Department of Medical Education and serves as Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine. He concurrently holds roles as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Curriculum, and Co-Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, demonstrating deep institutional leadership.

His academic foundation includes:

• B.A. in Genetics from Trinity College Dublin (1983)
• Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from SUNY Buffalo (1989)
• Postdoctoral training in gene regulation at the National Cancer Institute

Williams' scholarly focus spans medical education innovation and biomedical research. He pioneered the Family Medicine Accelerated Track (F-MAT) program to address physician shortages, while maintaining expertise in cancer genetics (particularly myeloid leukemias) and cardiovascular disease through his center directorship. His work emphasizes cultural competence, gender-based medicine, and technology-enhanced pedagogy.

Analysis of his 14 publications (2008-2013) reveals a decisive shift from biomedical research to medical education scholarship, with 80% of works centered on curriculum design, accelerated training models, and educational technology. This transition aligns with his administrative roles and reflects strategic institutional priorities in primary care development.

His accolades include:

• President’s Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award (2021)
• Lubbock County Medical Society’s Silent Hero Award (2020)
• Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award (2018)
• President's University Distinguished Professor Award (2015)

Williams has secured over $2.2M in competitive grants, including HRSA and SAMHSA funding for rural healthcare transformation and SBIRT training. He actively mentors doctoral students as committee chair and member while leading curriculum development initiatives across TTUHSC.

As Co-Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, he oversees interdisciplinary research teams focused on cardiovascular epidemiology and stroke prevention in West Texas populations, integrating these efforts with medical education through community-engaged scholarship.