Texas Universities Looking To Fill Doctor Shortage With Proposed Medical Schools

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the doctorate in osteopathic medicine in 2017. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation still needs to evaluate…

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) agreed to support a plan submitted by Sam Houston State University to open a new medical school and establish its proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This is part of a plan to train more primary care physicians to serve rural areas in East Texas through a medical degree that is more hands-on, holistic and prevention oriented. So far, 20 affiliation agreements with 26 hospitals have been confirmed.

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the doctorate in osteopathic medicine in 2017. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation still needs to evaluate the proposal. Sam Houston’s proposal does not require state money and was approved on the condition that the school never seek nor accept formula-based funding from the Legislature.

Separately, the University of Houston (UH) also is working to establish a medical school that aims to increase primary care physicians in underserved areas of the state. Texas currently ranks 47th out of 50 states in the ratio of primary care physicians to population.

The UH System’s board of regents approved establishing the UH College of Medicine in November with a plan to admit the first class in 2020. The university currently is seeking medical degree approval from the THECB and accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

THECB staff must conduct a UH site visit in order for the proposal to come before the board at its Oct. 25 meeting. UH’s plans call for a request of $40 million in legislative funding over 10 years.

This story originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.