New Pediatric Residency Program to Address Healthcare Shortage in Permian Basin
A new pediatric residency program is coming to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Permian Basin, thanks to a gift from the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP), the Scharbauer Foundation, and a commitment from TTUHSC itself. The program aims to address a critical shortage of pediatric and pediatric subspecialist care in the Permian Basin region of Texas.
The collaborative funding will total $12.8 million, comprised of a $4.3 million gift from the PSP, $3.5 million from the Scharbauer Foundation, and a $7.9 million commitment from TTUHSC. This investment will enable local pediatric training and, crucially, work to build and retain a strong workforce of pediatricians to serve the children and families of the area.
Currently, families in the Permian Basin often face significant barriers to accessing specialized pediatric care, frequently needing to travel outside the region and endure lengthy wait times for appointments. This new residency program is designed to alleviate these challenges by increasing the number of qualified pediatricians practicing locally.
Addressing a Critical Need
“The foundation of healthy and thriving communities is having access to health care for our communities’ most vulnerable populations — our children,” stated TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D. “TTUHSC is committed to training more physicians to serve the rural regions of the state that have the greatest need, and the TTUHSC pediatric residency program is essential to create a sustainable pipeline of care for the youth of the Permian Basin.”
The program will be operated through Texas Tech Physicians, the clinical practice of TTUHSC, and is expected to significantly bolster the region’s healthcare capacity. A key factor in the program’s design is the understanding that physicians are more likely to practice in areas where they complete their residency training.
“We know physicians are more likely to remain in the area where they complete their residency training,” Rice-Spearman added. “The Permian Basin will see more pediatric providers as they complete their residencies, and we feel confident that many of them will remain in the region to provide the expert-driven care you have come to expect from providers at Texas Tech Physicians.”
Program Details and Timeline
The pediatric residency program is officially slated to begin on . By , the program is projected to support 12 pediatric residents annually. This structured, multi-year training will equip these physicians with the skills and experience necessary to provide comprehensive pediatric care.
The program will not only focus on general pediatrics but will also offer training in specialized areas such as neonatology (care of newborns), pediatric endocrinology (hormone disorders), and pediatric behavioral/mental health. This broader scope of training will address a wider range of healthcare needs within the community.
Community and Foundation Support
The Scharbauer Foundation expressed strong support for the program, emphasizing its potential to improve healthcare access for children in Midland and the surrounding areas. “Scharbauer Foundation is proud to support the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center pediatric residency program,” said CEO and President Mary Ann Beninati. “This program represents a step toward addressing the critical need for pediatric care in the Permian Basin by bringing in additional pediatricians and pediatric specialists to Midland. These physicians will serve the community while training the next generation of doctors. This new program addresses a gap in care for our young population and allows business owners the peace of mind to recruit families to Midland.”
The Permian Strategic Partnership highlighted the importance of ensuring quality of life for residents of the Permian Basin, with accessible healthcare for children and families being a central component. “The Permian Strategic Partnership is focused on creating and maintaining quality of life in this vital region,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the PSP. “We must ensure we have consistent and accessible healthcare for children and their families. This is why partnering with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center on the creation of a pediatric residency is critically important. As more young families continue to grow and raise their families here, we want to make sure we have the health care professionals they need, right here in the Permian.”
Rice-Spearman concluded by emphasizing the long-term impact of this collaborative effort. “Together, we are not just meeting needs today in the Permian Basin but also building the foundation for tomorrow.”
The TTUHSC Permian Basin campus, located in Odessa and Midland, provides a modern learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities. The Odessa campus is particularly known for its large family medicine program specializing in rural medicine, while the Midland campus hosts the Physician Assistant program, which consistently achieves high licensure exam pass rates.
