SHSU, Tri-County Launch Conroe Psychiatry Residency

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare Launch Landmark Psychiatry Residency Program in Conroe**

**Conroe, TX –** In a monumental step to address Texas’s critical shortage of mental health professionals, Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU COM) and Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare have officially partnered to establish a new psychiatry residency program in Conroe. This initiative, poised to welcome its first residents on July 1, 2026, solidifies a commitment to bolster mental health services, particularly within the state’s rural and underserved communities.

The formal agreement, a significant milestone in regional healthcare, was signed on December 2, 2024, paving the way for a comprehensive four-year training program. Texas consistently ranks among the states with the lowest per-capita access to mental healthcare providers, and this new residency aims to directly counter that trend by developing a pipeline of highly skilled psychiatrists rooted in the local community.

“This program embodies the core mission of SHSU COM – to educate and prepare compassionate, skilled physicians who are ready to serve areas of high medical need,” said Dr. Andrew T. Carnahan, Dean of SHSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is located in Huntsville and opened its doors in 2020 with a focus on primary care. “We are not just training psychiatrists; we are cultivating future leaders in mental healthcare who we hope will establish lasting roots in these communities, making a profound difference where it’s needed most.”

The primary training site for the program will be Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare’s main facility in Conroe, a vital resource that has served Montgomery, Walker, and Liberty counties for decades, providing essential mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services. Residents will also gain diverse experience through rotations at various clinical locations, including Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, offering exposure to a wide range of patient populations and care settings.

“The mental health needs across Montgomery, Walker, and Liberty counties are immense, and this residency program is a beacon of hope for countless individuals and families,” stated Evan Roberson, CEO of Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare. “By cultivating a new generation of psychiatrists right here in our community, we are building a sustainable pipeline of talent that will significantly enhance access to care and improve the overall well-being of our residents for decades to come. This collaboration represents a long-term investment in our community’s health.”

Initially, the program plans to admit four residents annually, with the strategic goal of eventually hosting a total of 16 residents across its four-year structure. This expansion is designed to make a substantial and lasting impact on mental health care availability in a rapidly growing region. Both Dr. Carnahan and Mr. Roberson expressed strong optimism that many of these newly trained psychiatrists will choose to remain and practice in the region, providing much-needed long-term relief to the critical demand for psychiatric services.

A key objective for the program is to achieve accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). ACGME accreditation ensures the highest standards of medical education and training, signifying the program’s commitment to excellence and enabling its graduates to pursue board certification and practice across the nation.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in addressing the ongoing mental health crisis in Texas, promising to enhance the quality of life for residents across Conroe and the surrounding communities for generations to come.

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