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.

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‍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.

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

Kimberly Avila Edwards is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Advocacy for the Department of Pediatrics at Dell Medical School. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, she completed her medical education at Harvard and her pediatric training at Texas Children’s/Baylor College of Medicine. In 2024, she earned her Masters of Science in Health Care Transformation from U.T. Austin’s McCombs School of Business.

Dr. Avila Edwards has practiced general pediatrics in a private multispeciality group, an academic clinic, and a mobile clinic for uninsured children. In 2010, she co-founded the Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity.

With two decades of involvement in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Dr. Avila Edwards has served in various state and national roles. She chaired the Obesity and Legislative Committees of the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS), the state chapter of the AAP, and served as the youngest and only Hispanic President of TPS. National leadership positions in the AAP she has held include Texas Alternate Chapter Chair, Texas Chapter Chair, and Chapter Forum Management Committee member. She currently serves on the AAP Committee on Federal Government Affairs and on the Texas Medical Association Council on Legislation.

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.

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This webinar is produced by the Texas Primary Care Consortium with support from Episcopal Health Foundation, St. David’s Foundation, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Association of Health Plans, TMF Health Quality Institute, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

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