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The College of Public Health at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth recently welcomed Dr. Allen Solenberg Jr. as the newest health administration and health policy associate professor.

Solenberg served in the military for more than 20 years and is no stranger to innovation. During his service, he spearheaded 15 strategic roadmaps, turned organizational goals into actionable projects that optimized $100M in initiatives and ensured compliance with healthcare standards. He also demonstrated his innovative problem-solving by directing life-saving changes to Emergency Ambulance Services, securing headquarters-level approval for paramedics and closing critical response capability gaps.

His leadership experience as a retiring Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force instilled in him a commitment to excellence, teamwork and accountability. These values shaped his teaching and advising for future academic roles.

“Whether shaping curriculum, supporting students, or advancing the goals of the college, I bring forth the same dedication that defined my time in uniform,” Solenberg said.

With his Ph.D. in health policy and management and B.B.A. in health management, health administration has been a central focus of his career.

“I saw the gaps between policy, operations and patient experience pretty early in my college studies.” Solenberg said. “Health administration gave me the tools to bridge those gaps and improve care which aligned with my personal mission of turning ‘we’ve always done it this way’ into ‘why didn’t we think of that sooner?’”

Solenberg’s research explores health policy, patient safety, quality improvement and access to care for people with disabilities. His published work includes a qualitative study on barriers to cancer screening for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Today, the new associate professor continues to develop research that bridges systems-level healthcare delivery with issues of access, ethics and innovation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Solenberg to our college and to our health administration and health policy team,” said Barton Gill, health administration and health policy department chair. “His expertise and passion for healthcare administration will undoubtedly enrich our department and inspire our students.”

Through his work, Solenberg looks forward to helping students connect theory to real-world impact as they prepare to be leaders after graduation. In recent years, he has adjusted his approach to teaching by encouraging students to view failure as a necessary and valuable part of learning. He believes the classroom is the perfect environment for students to experiment and stretch beyond their comfort zones.

Solenberg also shares the lived experiences, both of his own and those of respected industry leaders, to demonstrate to students that success is seldom linear. He details that understanding the lessons behind success and failure helps students build their confidence and resilience while preparing for leadership roles.

“I’m thrilled to be joining UNTHSC and the College of Public Health community,” Solenberg said. “The mission-driven commitment to improving health for all – especially underserved communities – is inspiring and I am looking forward to being a part of that.”