About Us
About Us:
The InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Recently we have started an extensive program in clinical research. We have completed several large clinical trials last year, and we have two more to begin soon. We have 5 IRB-approved drug studies ready to start soon. We have a vast and large breastfeeding/pregnant audience and we are quite capable of accommodating drug trials in this population.
The InfantRisk Helpline provides answers to questions about the use of drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Please call us for information about the safety of using drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, chemicals, vaccines, and other substances.
The Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Helpline is useful since many women suffer needlessly through NVP. Call our helpline for suggestions on how to treat it. Don't keep throwing up, we can help!
The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Helpline provides information about the use of alcohol during pregnancy and lactation. We also will provide information on other drugs of abuse, such as marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.
The Depression Hotline is essential since depression is dangerous to your infant. We have information on drugs used to treat this problem and local resources for you to obtain help. Don't suffer with depression, get help!
Executive Director:
Thomas W. Hale, RPh, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University School of Medicine is the Executive Director of the InfantRisk Center and Associate Dean of Research.
Dr. Hale is considered the foremost leading expert in the field of perinatal pharmacology and the use of medications.
His website and webforums provide the largest source of data on the use of medications in breastfeeding mothers in the world and has more than 30,000 visits per month.
“The vision of the InfantRisk Center is to create a new body of drug information concerning the hazards and safety of medications and their use during pregnancy and during lactation,” said Tom Hale, Ph.D. “Ultimately, we wish to funnel this information into an effort to extend and enhance our knowledge of the use of medications and other environmental chemicals in pregnant and breastfeeding women”.
Associate Director:
Teresa E. Baker, MD
Dr. Baker graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern and completed her residency training at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, TX. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Dr. Baker has a combined private and academic OB/GYN practice with the University Physicians at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Amarillo. She is interested in teen pregnancy, postpartum depression, and promoting preventive medicine for the women of the Texas Panhandle, as well as Resident and Student education and serves as the Residency Director.
Nurse Practitioner:
Cynthia Pride, MSN, CPNP
Cynthia has been a nurse practitioner for 25 years with interest in both neonatal and pediatric specialties. She studied at West Texas A&M University.
She continues to practice in the pediatrics department on a regular basis, and contributes to our InfantRisk team with her clinical knowledge.
"I am excited to have this opportunity to practice in both specialities."
Professional Consultants:
Curtis Turner, MD
Dr. Turner is a pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He serves as the Program Director for the Pediatric Residency Program at Texas Tech in Amarillo. He graduated from the University of South Carolina College of Medicine in Charleston, SC and did his post-graduate training in Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina and Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He then went on to complete his sub-specialty in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Richard Lampe, MD
Dr. Lampe is professor and chairman of the pediatrics department at Texas Tech University School of Medicine/Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock Texas. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases and a member of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society.
