SHSU-COM Hosts Statewide Rural Health Conference in Partnership with TRHA
SHSU-COM Hosts Statewide Rural Health Conference in Partnership with TRHA
Rural health leaders from across Texas gathered recently in Conroe for the Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA) conference, hosted at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM). The two-day event brought together educators, clinicians, administrators, other healthcare partners and students to tackle one of the state’s most pressing challenges: how to expand access to care and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce.
During his welcome address, SHSU-COM Dean Thomas J. Mohr, DO, provided an overview of the college’s mission and the growing need for physicians in rural Texas. “We’re a state of more than 31 million people with large areas that lack adequate access to healthcare,” Mohr said. “Our goal is to prepare physicians who will serve where they are most needed and to create the training opportunities that make that possible.”
The conference featured panel discussions, student presentations and networking sessions centered on workforce development, graduate medical education and the value of community partnerships. A highlight of the program included a panel discussion with leaders from SHSU-COM, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, the three osteopathic medical schools in Texas, focused on strategies for launching and sustaining rural residency programs.
Student doctors from SHSU-COM and TCOM shared how future physicians are helping lead the way in rural outreach. SHSU-COM Rural and Underserved Health Club members Rett Douglas and Ryan Donham, along with Lane Berry, Nathan McCoy, Zak Alvarado and Michael Mangan from TCOM, presented student-driven initiatives designed to promote health and strengthen connections with rural communities.
Throughout the conference, participants discussed practical ways to support and sustain rural healthcare, from engaging local hospitals and expanding faculty resources to using state-supported grants that help develop graduate medical education. Sessions highlighted how service, leadership and early experiences in rural settings can inspire physicians to build lasting careers in smaller communities.
TRHA Board President Courtney West, PhD, senior associate dean at SHSU-COM, closed the conference by thanking participants for their commitment to rural healthcare and reinforcing the importance of collaboration.
“This is an opportunity to bring people together who are doing important work for rural communities across the state,” West said. “Our goal is to share ideas, build connections and continue the conversation about what it takes to meet the healthcare needs of Texans in rural areas.”
At a time when many rural hospitals across the country are closing their doors and communities are struggling to retain healthcare providers, focusing on rural health in Texas has never been more important. Hosting the TRHA conference reflects SHSU-COM’s commitment to lead these conversations and help unite the people and programs working to ensure that quality care and physician access remain within reach for every Texan, regardless of their ZIP code.
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