Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Permian Basin has announced a new pediatric residency program, made possible by funding from the Permian Strategic Partnership and the Scharbauer Foundation. The announcement was made on February 5.
The initiative will be supported by a $4.3 million gift from the Permian Strategic Partnership, $3.5 million from the Scharbauer Foundation, and a $7.9 million commitment from TTUHSC. This funding aims to address a shortage of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists in the Permian Basin region, where families often travel outside the area for care or face long wait times.
TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman said, “The foundation of healthy and thriving communities is having access to health care for our communities’ most vulnerable populations — our children. 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 new program will allow Texas Tech Physicians—the clinical practice group at TTUHSC—to expand its workforce in response to regional needs. Rice-Spearman added, “We know physicians are more likely to remain in the area where they complete their residency training. 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.”
The pediatric residency program is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2028, with plans to support 12 residents per year by 2030.
Mary Ann Beninati, CEO and President of the Scharbauer Foundation, stated: “Scharbauer Foundation is proud to support the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center pediatric residency program. 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.”
In addition to general pediatrics, residents will receive training in specialties such as neonatology, pediatric endocrinology, and behavioral/mental health.
Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of Permian Strategic Partnership, said: “The Permian Strategic Partnership is focused on creating and maintaining quality of life in this vital region. 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.”
According to its official website, Tracee Bentley serves as president and CEO while Jack Harper serves as chairman of PSP’s board (Fact 1; Fact 6). The partnership includes major energy companies such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Devon Energy among its governing members (Fact 3), working alongside two university systems (Fact 4). PSP’s mission focuses on improving education, healthcare—including programs like this one—road safety and workforce development across communities within the Permian Basin (Fact 2; Fact 5).
Rice-Spearman concluded: “Together, we are not just meeting needs today in the Permian Basin but also building the foundation for tomorrow.”