UT Tyler School of Medicine receives $900k gift

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine received a $900,000 gift from Texas Mutual Insurance Company to support the occupational and environmental medicine residency. According to a university news release, the six-year gift will expand the residency by 50%. After medical school, physicians complete a three-to-seven-year residency to receive specialized training and obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine.

According to the Texas Physician Pipeline Mode, 58.9% of physicians who completed their graduate medical education in Texas stayed in the state to practice.

“With the generous support from Texas Mutual, our occupational and environmental medicine residency program will be able to expand, allowing us to train more physicians who will remain committed to serving East Texas,” said Dr. Brigham C. Willis, UT Tyler School of Medicine founding dean. “Having physicians who are deeply rooted in the community is vital for understanding and addressing local health care needs.”

Physicians specializing in occupational and environmental medicine treat work-related injuries and provide surveillance for workers exposed to dust and chemicals, among other exposures. Occupational and environmental medicine physicians work with employers to provide a safe workplace and ensure the safety and health of workers. The UT Tyler occupational and environmental medicine residency is one of two in Texas.

“We’re proud to invest in the education of our future physicians who serve such a critical role in supporting their communities,” said Jeremiah Bentley, vice president of marketing & community affairs at Texas Mutual. “Expanding access to health care for hardworking Texans and their families is part of our mission to create a stronger, safer Texas, because healthy communities are good for everyone.”