North Texas Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network - NorTex

03/03/2026

02/23/2026

We are pleased to announce that our abstract has been accepted for presentation at TxSUS 2026.

The team will present a poster on March 2 during the conference.

Poster Title: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Texas: A Survey of Treatment Providers

This research highlights critical gaps in care and seeks to better understand the experiences of treatment providers serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This work stems from our pilot project funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD).

02/18/2026

NorTex is excited to share that Ms. Cindy Abrego Lopez has been promoted from Senior Project Coordinator to Senior Program Manager and will now serve as the Administrative Director for NorTex.

Ms. Abrego Lopez has played a key role in strengthening the mission of the North Texas Primary Care Practice Based Research Network.

NorTex is grateful for her leadership and looks forward to the continued impact she will bring in this new role!

CONGRATULATIONS!! 🥳

02/14/2026

💙 Happy Valentine’s Day from NorTex! 💙

Today, NorTex celebrates the clinicians, researchers, and community partners who put their hearts into improving health across North Texas.

Thank you for all you do — today and every day!

12/22/2025

🎄✨ Happy Holidays from NorTex! ✨🎄

Wishing you joy, peace, and wonderful moments this holiday season. Thank you for being part of our community and for all the ways you make a difference every day.
Here’s to a bright and hopeful New Year! 🌟

Picture provided by The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth featuring our NorTex team (Dr. Kim Fulda, Dr. Anna Espinoza, and Ms. Cindy Abrego Lopez) and representation from our Department of Family Medicine in UNT Health Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (Ms. Ashley Leon and Ms. Patricia Powell).

12/18/2025

Our team Dr. Kim Fulda, Dr. Anna Espinoza, Ms. Janice Smith, and Ms. Cindy Abrego Lopez (behind the scenes) represented NorTex and the Department of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine from UNT Health Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at Neighborhood Needs Fort Worth through the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help with their food distribution.

From sorting shelves packed with essentials to loading carts full of fresh produce, we were proud to support families in our community. Every box, every bag, every smile matters—and we’re grateful to have been part of this mission!

A huge thank you to Neighborhood Needs and Tarrant Area Food Bank for the incredible work you do every day.

If you feel led to help out your community, sign up to volunteer here: https://tafb.galaxydigital.com/

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NorTex!

11/06/2025

🎉 Big congratulations to our friend and collaborator, Jordan Smelley, MHPS! 🎉

Jordan was recently recognized as an internationally award-winning speaker on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and Recovery Supports, earning the Best Presentation Award from the International Conference on Applied Psychology held on October 24, 2025.

We’re so proud to see Jordan’s dedication and advocacy for the IDD community being celebrated on a global stage.

10/22/2025

We had the pleasure of meeting Ryan Cole, the Texas Beacons of Excellence Project Director with UNT WISE, at the Texas Advocates Conference! 💙

Ryan shared about UNT WISE and its programs that empower individuals with disabilities through training, education, and employment support. Their work helps promote competitive, integrated employment and highlights the strengths and talents people with disabilities bring to the workforce.

As we recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we join in celebrating the theme “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Together, we can continue building inclusive workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Learn more about UNT WISE and their impactful programs here: https://wise.unt.edu/

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” highlights the importance of recognizing the skills, perspectives, and contributions that people with disabilities bring to the workplace.

At UNT WISE, we believe that hiring people with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a smart business practice. There is incredible, often untapped potential that can strengthen teams, boost innovation, and enrich workplace culture when given the opportunity to thrive.

Through our programs, we see this value in action every day, and we’re proud to continue our mission of advancing competitive, integrated employment for all. 💙

10/16/2025

A couple of very timely stories done by Dr. Kim Fulda, TCOM’s executive director of the North Texas Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network - NorTex, as October is Substance Abuse Prevention month. She debunks many myths about those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance abuse and talks about risk factors. A very important topic to learn more about. Great work, Dr. Fulda!
https://tinyurl.com/3p2d6xd7
https://tinyurl.com/yyhwsd87

10/08/2025

Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health September is National Recovery Month. Some people think that people with intellectual and developmental disabil…

10/08/2025

Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health  October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month. We’re learning more about IDD and substance use. Last month,…