Administration | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
TTUHSC students walking through Lubbock campus courtyard.

Amarillo School of Health Professions

 
Regional Dean
Joan Brunet, PT, DPT, EdD, MS.

Joan Potter Brunet PT, EdD, DPT, MS, is the regional dean in Amarillo for the Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professions. She also serves
as the assistant program director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Potter
Brunet earned her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech
University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from AT Still University in Mesa,
Ariz. She has been a physical therapist since 1991 and on faculty with the physical
therapy program since August 1999. Potter Brunet has served in many roles with the
PT program including the director of clinical education and her current roles as an
assistant professor and the assistant program director. Her clinical interests include
vestibular rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, prosthetic management and training,
LSVT Big and Loud treatment for Parkinson’s disease, post-concussion treatment and
general post-operative management. Her research interests include student outcomes,
student success in graduate school and the socialization process into health care
professions. 

Amarillo School of Medicine

 
Interim Regional Dean
Brian Weis, MD, Phd, FACP.

Brian Weis, MD, PhD, FACP , began in the role of interim regional dean for the Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine on May 1, 2023. Weis has a
history with TTUHSC dating back to January of 2005 when he joined the internal
medicine faculty after having spent 17 years at UT Southwestern/Parkland Hospital in
Dallas. While in Dallas, Weis completed his M.D., a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and his
postgraduate training in internal medicine before joining the faculty at UT Southwestern.
He was recruited by TTUHSC in Amarillo with the intent of serving as the program
director for the TTUHSC Internal Medicine Residency Program; he served in that role for
more than seven years. In the summer of 2015, Weis became the chief medical officer
(CMO) at Northwest Texas Hospital having served in multiple medical staff leadership
roles at the hospital since 2005. Weis had the privilege of helping lead the hospital and
community through the COVID-19 pandemic as the CMO and member of the Mayor’s
COVID-19 Advisory Board. Yearning to return to a teaching role with residents and
medical students, Weis returned to TTUHSC in the Spring of 2023.
Weis is the proud recipient of the Mario Feola M.D. Outstanding Faculty Award in 2007
and 2011, the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award by the internal medicine residents
seven times from 2006 through 2012, the Dean’s Clinical Science Teaching Award in
2007, and the Dean’s Award in Educational Innovation in 2011. He is the only physician
to have been awarded the Northwest Texas Hospital “Physician of the Year” twice in
2009 and 2021. Finally, he is a recipient of an Amarillo Key to the City along with his
physician colleagues on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for COVID-19.
Weis is married to Joanna Wilson, DO, a provider of gender-specific health care in the
Amarillo community. They are the proud parents of two children, Cannon and Valerie.

 Weis and his wife play in the band, Liquid Jimi, who focus on original instrumental rock

Amarillo Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy

 
Regional Dean
Krystal Haase, Pharm.D.

Krystal Haase, Pharm.D., was named regional dean in Amarillo of the Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in 2023.
Before becoming regional dean, Haase served as a faculty member for more than 23
years at TTUHSC, division head of adult medicine for ten years and program director for
various residency programs in Amarillo.
Haase has served in multiple committees and actively participated in professional
organizations, including the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American
Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, the
American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Society of Critical Care
Medicine

Amarillo School of Nursing

 
Valerie Kiper, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Valerie Kiper, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, serves as the inaugural regional dean in
Amarillo for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. She
was appointed to the position in Oct. 2021. TTUHSC SON expanded the traditional
pre-licensure BSN program to the Amarillo campus after approval from the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board in October 2021; however, nursing has had a
footprint on the Amarillo campus since 2013 with the ABSN/VBSN (accelerated/veteran
BSN) programs.
Kiper also is an associate professor teaching leadership and community/public health
nursing courses in the RN-BSN program at the TTUHSC School of Nursing where she
has held that position since joining the faculty of the School of Nursing in August 2016.
Kiper has 44 years of nursing experience with the majority of her career serving in
various nursing leadership roles. Prior to joining TTUHSC School of Nursing, she
served as a tenured chief nursing officer for a 495-bed acute care, tertiary healthcare
system as well as serving as the corporate director for accreditation and regulatory
compliance for a major healthcare management company.
Kiper holds a diploma in nursing from the Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing in
Amarillo. She received both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and a Master’s of
Science in Nursing degree from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas; and a
Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center.
Kiper is involved in various professional organizations and has held leadership positions
in them. She serves on several community, state and national advisory boards. She
holds advanced certification in nursing administration from American Nurses
Credentialing Center.
She has received various awards including 2015 TTUHSC SON Alumni Award for
Excellence in Executive Leadership, 2020-2021 TONL Excellence in Leadership
Award-Texas Organization of Nursing Leaders, 2021 Panhandle Great 25 Nurses
-Legacy Award, 2021-2022 TTUHSC Presidential Alumni award and the 2023 Nexstar
Media- Remarkable Women for the Texas Panhandle.
Dr. Kiper has an impressive record of publishing and presenting on diverse topics in
national and international forums