Who we are:
- Primary: School of Medicine, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Texas Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas
- Principal Investigator: Cynthia K. Ball, DO, MS, FACOEM
- Program Manager: Nickie B. Warren, BBA
- Consulting: The Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University
- Consultant: Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD
- Clinical Services: Concentra Medical Center, Amarillo, TX
- Clinician: Angela Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, West Texas A&M University
Contact Information:
Toll-free number: 1-888-378-8939
Amarillo number: 1-806-378-8939
Email: [email protected]
What we do:
- The Pantex Former Worker Medical Surveillance Program offers former Pantex Plant employees and contract workers who worked on the site, the opportunity to obtain an independent, objective assessment of their health in relation to their workplace exposures by health care providers experienced in occupational medicine.
- Participants are scheduled for an appointment at a time convenient for them at a clinic in Amarillo. Former workers that live outside the Amarillo area are referred to the NSSP.
- Each participant completes an occupational exposure history, as well as past medical history, prior to having their medical screening examination.
- The initial screening exam includes the offering of all the following tests: physical exam, chest x-ray with ILO B-read, spirometry, Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (BeLPT), blood chemistry tests, and urinalysis.
- Former workers who participate in the program receive the results of their clinical exam and medical tests in a personalized “results letter” from a board-certified occupational medicine physician along with any necessary follow-up recommendations.
- The screening process is an opportunity for former workers to receive additional wellness information and support for lifestyle changes to improve their health and quality of life.
- Each participant is offered the opportunity to return for a “re-screening” exam every three years. The re-screening exam is focused on previous findings and any new health developments with all laboratory testing repeated as appropriate.
- Former workers are assisted with claims made through the DOL program, as appropriate.
- Former workers are invited to participate in the Pantex Former Worker Program through telephone calls and mailings. In addition, participants are advised of the FWP and the DEEOIC webinar series as a viable resource of information.
What we have found:
- CXRs: 5.42 % of 1402 participants demonstrated findings consistent with work-related lung disease
- CXRs: 4.92 % of 1402 participants demonstrated findings consistent with suspicious lung nodules or lesions
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs): 39.30 % of 1402 participants demonstrated findings consistent with obstructive disease
- BeLPTs: 1.43 % of 1402 participants had at least one abnormal BeLPT
- Audiometry: N/A
- Our Participation Surveys continue to show 98.9% satisfaction with the program
Medical Team:
Medical Team:
Cynthia K. Ball, DO, MS, FACOEM
Principal Investigator
Dr. Cynthia K. Ball is a board-certified occupational medicine physician and a fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (FACOEM). She joined the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler as an Associate Professor of Medicine and served as Co-Principal Investigator until April 2023. Her focus has been on occupational injury management with attention paid to identifying and addressing barriers to worker recovery and return to work. She is interested in occupational health and safety, lifestyle change, musculoskeletal issues, and occupational injury case management. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kansas and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. After a tour of duty with the Navy as a general medical officer, she completed her Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches as part of her residency training. Prior to pursuing medicine, Dr. Ball worked as a Materials Engineer for Bell Helicopter and then spent five years in rural Japan as an ESL teacher and strength coach.
Angela Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Services
Dr. Angela Phillips is an Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). She received an ADN from McLennan Community College in 1989, a BSN from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1992, a MSN from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi and certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in 1999, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2009 from University of Texas at Houston. She has been employed at WTAMU since 2003 and recently named the Mike Wartes Professorship of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Dr. Phillips is the Director of Graduate Studies and teaches Pharmacotherapeutics, Primary Health Care courses, Capstone Practicum for FNP, and Research Synthesis. Dr. Phillips is involved in the Nursing Health and Wellness Clinic on campus at WTAMU. She is a member of National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Texas Nurse Practitioners, and Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Association. She is on numerous health-related boards and in addition to her work with Pantex Former workers, she volunteers at Heal the City free clinic within the city of Amarillo.
Dr. Phillips has been involved in Pantex Former Worker Medical Surveillance Program since 2005. She has published an article and given presentations related to this research.
Arthur L. Frank MD, PhD
Consultant
Dr. Arthur L. Frank is a Clinical Professor of Public Health at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia. He is also Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. He also holds faculty positions as Professor of Medicine and as Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. His medical degree is from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1972) and his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Mount Sinai campus of the City University of New York (1977). He worked at Mount Sinai with Dr. Irving Selikoff and since his days as a medical student has been continuously engaged in research regarding the health effects of asbestos. His professional interests involve exposure to other dusts, and to carcinogens in general. He has also worked in the area of agricultural safety and health. Dr. Frank has taught at Mount Sinai, the University of Kentucky and in the University of Texas system before joining the faculty at Drexel. He is boarded in both internal medicine and occupational medicine and has served as an advisor to such organizations as NIOSH, OSHA, the EPA, and the CDC. He has been a consultant to companies and unions. He has done work internationally including in China, India and Mongolia. He has published some 2500 publications, many related to asbestos, and served many publications as an editor and reviewer.