Today@Sam Article

Dr. Brent Sanderlin’s Legacy Lives on Through Hands-On Training at SHSU-COM

Oct. 24, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins

By Brittany Foreman

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) held a heartfelt dedication ceremony on Oct. 3 to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Brent Sanderlin, chair of Primary Care and Clinical Medicine, who passed away earlier this year. 

Hosted by SHSU’s Division of University Advancement, the ceremony brought together Dr. Sanderlin’s family, SHSU leadership and members of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Speakers included SHSU President Alisa White, Vice President for University Advancement Matt Bethea, SHSU-COM Dean Thomas J. Mohr, DO, and Dr. Sanderlin’s father, Gerald “Jerry” Sanderlin.

Dean Mohr reflected on his long professional connection with Dr. Sanderlin and the impact he had on patients, colleagues and students.  

“By dedicating this room in his honor, future generations will know his name and be inspired by the example he set and the impact he made on the osteopathic profession,” Mohr said. “This space will stand as a reminder of his dedication to training compassionate, skilled physicians who will go on to serve communities across this state and nation, just like Brent.” 

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a plaque dedicating SHSU-COM’s OR/Trauma Simulation Room in Dr. Sanderlin’s honor, supported by a $150,000 family gift. 

The OR/Trauma Simulation Room is a central part of SHSU-COM’s state-of-the-art simulation hospital, where student doctors receive immersive, hands-on training beginning in their first year. In this space, students learn through encounters with standardized patients and advanced medical mannequins, practicing procedures such as cardiovascular interventions and birthing simulations. The room reflects Dr. Sanderlin’s belief in preparing physicians not only with knowledge, but with the skills and compassion needed to care for patients in real-world settings. 

SHSU-COM is deeply grateful to the Sanderlin family for ensuring that his legacy will continue to inspire student doctors for generations to come. 

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