Today@Sam Article

$500,000 Grant Expands Rural Residency Program in Huntsville, Strengthening Access to Primary Care

April 25, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd

By Brittany Foreman

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM), in partnership with the Sam Houston Regional Education Consortium (SHREC) and Huntsville Memorial Hospital (HMH), has received a $500,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board through the Rural Resident Physician Program (RRPP). This funding will support the expansion of the HMH Family Medicine Residency Program, bringing more healthcare providers to the area and increasing access to primary care in Walker County and surrounding rural communities.

The grant will fund the hiring of a director of rural education, who will serve as core faculty for the existing residency program, help lead the expansion from four to six residents per year and play a key role in developing at least one new rural training track (RTT) in partnership with one of SHSU-COM’s clinical affiliates. This new track is specifically designed to prepare residents for the unique challenges of rural healthcare. These efforts align with the long-term vision to develop sustainable pipelines of physicians prepared to serve rural and underserved populations across Texas, starting in SHSU-COM’s own backyard.

“This award is a vital step toward our long-term vision of increasing access to quality healthcare in rural Texas,” said Thomas J. Mohr, D.O. dean of SHSU-COM. “By expanding our residency program, we’re not only training the next generation of rural physicians—we’re helping ensure they stay and practice in areas like Walker County.”

The expanded residency—based at HMH and supported by SHSU-COM faculty—will significantly boost local healthcare capacity. Research shows that physicians are far more likely to practice near where they complete their residency, making rural residency programs an important tool for long-term workforce development.

“This ability to invest in rural training is also an investment in Huntsville’s future,” said Townes “Tucker” Leigh, D.O., program director of the HMH Family Medicine Residency. “Resident physicians are more likely to remain in the place they completed their residency training. When residents train here, they build relationships with the community, gain an understanding of local health needs and are more likely to build and grow their own families while providing much needed primary care medical services for Walker County and the surrounding areas.”

The Huntsville Rural Family Medicine Residency Program, a collaboration between SHREC, SHSU-COM and HMH, achieved initial accreditation and welcomed its first residents in July 2023. By July 2025, the program will reach its initial accredited capacity of 12 residents (four per year). With this grant award, the program is poised to expand to 18 residents (six per year) over the next few years, strengthening its capacity to meet the growing healthcare needs of the region.

Huntsville Memorial Hospital plays a key role in the success of the program. The hospital is home to the Huntsville Rural Health Clinic (RHC), the hub for primary care training in the residency program. The RHC provides care throughout the community and has the potential to expand to even more areas currently without consistent access to primary care.

Walker County’s population is expected to surpass 118,000 by 2040, according to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). As the region grows, so does the demand for healthcare – particularly for the elderly and underserved populations. Nearly 20% of the anticipated growth is among those aged 65 and older—an age group that typically requires more consistent and complex medical care.

The region continues to face a shortage of primary care physicians. Walker County has just one primary physician for every 3,710 residents – more than twice the Texas average, and nearly three times the national average (County Health Rankings, 2024). The same report cites preventable hospital stays in Walker County as significantly higher than both state and national rates, a reflection of limited access to routine and preventive care. The expansion of the residency program aims to help close this gap.

“The future of rural healthcare in Huntsville and beyond depends on intentional investment in medical education,” said Gretchen Holmes, PhD, associate dean for graduate medical education and the designated institutional official (DIO). “We are grateful for this grant, which will help us take a major step forward in building programs that serve both our students and our communities.”

The expanded Huntsville Rural Family Medicine Residency Program reflects a strong and growing commitment to improving healthcare access for all Walker County residents. With continued collaboration between local healthcare providers and SHSU, and with support from state and community partners, the future of rural medicine in Huntsville looks bright.

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