Conroe - Montgomery Edition | June 2025

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Conroe Montgomery Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 3 JUNE 24JULY 23, 2025

2025 Health Care Edition

Lone Star Family Health Center expands in Conroe

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

Lone Star Family Health Center—a federally qualied health center in Montgomery County—saw 31,346 patients in 2024. This year, as patients visit the health center, they’ll be welcomed into the nonprot’s expanded building that includes an extra 24,000 square feet of space, new medical rooms, a second pharmacy, and dedicated spaces for mental health and women’s health services. “The need for those centralized services has grown, and we were busting from the seams in our existing building,” LSFHC CEO Karen Harwell said.

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Physician Jonathan Santos treats a patient at Lone Star Family Health Center. This spring, the nonprot completed an expansion that included additional medical exam rooms.

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Also in this issue

INSIDE

Impacts: Learn about Lone Star Clay Studio’s opening in Montgomery (Page 6)

Education: Read about former Superintendent Curtis Null’s time at CISD (Page 17)

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The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/incentives, neighborhood build-out and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions, square footage and acreage are approximate and should not be used as a representation of any home’s or homesite’s precise or actual size, location or orientation. There is no guarantee that any particular homesite or home will be available. A Broker/Agent must register their client in person on client’s first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a commission or referral fee, if available. Not all features and options are available in all homes. Unless otherwise expressly stated, homes do not come with hardscape, landscape, or other decorator items. Any photographs or renderings used herein reflect artists’ conceptions and are for illustrative purposes only. Community maps, illustrations, plans and/or amenities reflect our current vision and are subject to change without notice. Photographs or renderings of people do not depict or indicate any preference regarding race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national origin. Our name and the logos contained herein are registered trademarks of Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. © 2025 Tri Pointe Homes Texas, Inc. All rights reserved.

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Angela Bonilla Sarah Brager Melissa Enaje Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Tomer Ronen Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Kevin Vu Julianna Washburn Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Chrissy Leggett General Manager cleggett@ communityimpact.com

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Account Executive Chelsea Williams Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt

Lizzy Spangler Editor lspangler@ communityimpact.com

Jason Culpepper Houston Market President jculpepper@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

• Opened May 17 • 206 N. Thomason St., Willis • www.strongerwillis.com

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4 Burlington The retailer sells clothing, home decor and accessories for men, women and children. • Opened May 23

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• 12338 I-45 N., Willis • www.burlington.com

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5 Ruchi’s Indian Kitchen The restaurant features an array of dishes showcasing Indian cuisine. Customers can order online to pick up. • Opened May 23 • 850 S. Loop 336 W., Ste. 400, Conroe • www.ruchisconroe.com 6 F3 The organization offers free outdoor workouts for men on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings from 5:30-6:15 a.m. • Opened April 26 • 901 Pine Market Ave., Montgomery • www.f3nation.com 7 The Glass Guru The business offers residential and commercial glass services. • Opened June 23 • 21372 Shannon Circle, Ste. A, Montgomery • www.theglassguru.com/locations/conroe-tx 8 Moss and Co. Market The business offers craft coffee, pickleball, boutique products for sale, and is available for special events. • Opened May 23

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2 Studio 36 Salon The beauty salon offers various hair and eyebrow services as well as lip fillers. • Opened May 10 • 1135 Grand Central Parkway, Ste. 220, Conroe • www.instagram.com/studio36salonsuites

Now open

• 18876 FM 2854, Montgomery • www.mossandcomarket.com

1 Moose & Oak The restaurant offers a full menu and bar, and features pool tables, dart boards and televisions. • Opened May 31 • 764 Fish Creek Thoroughfare, Montgomery • www.mooseandoak.com

9 Neon Bloom Studio The selfie studio and content museum has around 10 different photo backdrops and booths, which will alternate throughout the year.

3 Stronger Training The gym offers group and personal training.

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• Opened in late June • 15949 Hwy. 105 W., Ste. 59, Montgomery • Facebook: Neon Bloom Studio

Now open

10 Bricks & Minifigs The company buys, sells and trades used LEGO bricks and LEGO minifigures. • Opened June 21 • 2200 N. Frazier St., Ste. 140, Conroe • www.bricksandminifigs.com

Coming soon

11 Texas Hair Team The business offers haircuts for men, women, boys and girls as well as hair coloring and highlights. • Opening this summer • 10350 Hwy. 242, Ste. 400, Conroe • www.texashairteam.com 12 Behavioral Innovations The center specializes in applied behavior analysis, or ABA, therapy. • Opening August 29 • 1450 League Line Road, Ste. 100, Conroe • www.startaba.com 13 Ivy Kids of Conroe The center provides an early learning environment for children from six weeks to 12 years old. • Scheduled to open in July • 2001 N. Loop 336 W., Conroe • www.ivykidsconroe.com

15 Lone Star Clay Studio The studio is community-based and artist-led, with six wheels and clay tables for pottery throwing and hand-building experiences. The studio offers classes for date night, group events and also has monthly memberships available. Lone Star Clay Studio also sells clay and provides firing services. Walk-ins are welcome. • Opened May 1 • 308 Pond St., Ste. D, Montgomery • www.lonestarclaystudio.com

18 Get Fictional Owner Keely Mahaffey blends, designs and hand- pours soy candles with a “bookish twist,” Mahaffey said, along with offering wax melts, perfumes and diffusers. The store also has a select collection of books, including independent and local authors. • Opened June 13

• 223 N. Main St., Conroe • www.getfictional.com

19 202 Main 202 Main announced its closing June 6 via Facebook. • Closed June 6 • 202 N. Main St., Conroe • www.202mainconroe.com 20 Sweet Texas Treasures The business closed its Conroe location, however, the Montgomery location is still open. • Closed March 22 • 223 N. Main St., Conroe • www.sweettexastreasures.com

In the news

16 The Boot Shop Woodlands The business is under new management as of June 2. • 4800 FM 1488, Conroe • Facebook: The Boot Shop Woodlands

Relocations

14 Dragon Bowl C The business, known for its anime-inspired Asian cuisine, relocated within downtown Conroe. • Relocated May 31

Closings

17 Willis Mercantile The shop announced its closing April 30 via Facebook. • Closed May 23 • 115 N. Danville St., Willis

• 330 N. Main St., Conroe • www.dragonbowltx.com

*Annual Percentage Yield. Minimum to open $500. For additional information about fees and terms of account, please contact your local branch. Rates are subject to change without notice.

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Government

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

Conroe votes down citywide moratorium, citing state funding

A citywide moratorium will not go into eect for Conroe, after City Council voted May 30 against implementing the measure. Council member Marsha Porter said Rep. Will Metcalf, RConroe, and state Sen. Brandon Creigh- ton, RConroe, secured $15 million for the city for water infrastructure, which council members cited as the reason they voted against the moratorium. In a June 12 email, Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said that the funds have not been designated to any specic projects yet. “[Metcalf and Creighton] made it possible for us to absolutely delay this,” Porter said May 30. “Now the water capacity [issue] is not going away. It’s not ever going away until we all work together to solve it.” There is already an existing temporary develop- ment moratorium for the northern portion of the city, which was enacted last August and extended twice, most recently in April.

Also of note Council members stressed that the new funding doesn’t alleviate water infrastructure concerns. “Our water capacity is a problem. Our sewer capacity is a problem, and we don’t have the kind of money to x it,” Porter said. Council member Harry Hardman said he believes the city is the victim of its own success. “During the last two years, we had 9,000 connections. ... This is not going to go away,”

“I think it’s fantastic news that we all received today so our heartfelt, sincere thank you to [Metcalf and Creighton] as well.” HOWARD WOOD, CONROE COUNCIL MEMBER

Hardman said. Before you go

“I’m committed to working with all of [the community] in the fullest extent we can, but there’s

If the council wants to consider a citywide mor- atorium again, the city would have to go through the entire legal process again, City Attorney Mike Garner said. The process includes the publication of a public notice and two public hearings, per Texas state law, section 212.134.

only so much we can do and we all have to understand that this is a very serious problem.” HARRY HARDMAN, CONROE COUNCIL MEMBER

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Government

BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN, JESSICA SHORTEN & LIZZY SPANGLER

Montgomery approves development variances During its May 27 meeting, Montgomery City Council voted 4-1 to approve variance requests for the lot sizes, lot width, front yard setbacks and side yard setbacks for the Villages at Montgomery, a residential and commercial development set to be located in downtown. Council member Tom Czulewicz voted against, citing concerns with traffic and housing density. In a nutshell Parkside Capital is developing the project, which will include 7.3 acres of commercial development and 42.7 acres of single-family residential devel- opment, according to the agenda packet. The development will include: • Residential homes with enhanced streetscapes with landscaping, trees and other elements • A boulevard road with landscaped medians, which will prevent on-street parking for alley- loaded homes The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission also recommended approval of the variance requests, with the condition that parking is not permitted in the proposed alleys.

Conroe to relocate utilities for $5.7M On May 22, Conroe City Council approved an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to relo- cate water and sewer utilities along Hwy. 75. What you need to know Per the agreement, Conroe will be respon- sible for utility relocation costs totaling $5.7 million—$424,135 for design and $5.3 million for construction. The relocation is needed due to a road widening project so that the utilities are out of the right of way, according to the agenda. Public Works Director Norman McGuire said TxDOT will design and construct it. The funding will come from capital expenditures.

Villages of Montgomery

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Villages of Montgomery’s approved variances

10-foot front yard setbacks from the typical 25-foot setbacks 5-foot side yard setbacks from the typical 10-foot setbacks 4,950-square-foot minimum lot sizes from the typical 9,000-square-foot lot sizes 45-foot lot widths and 110-foot lot depths from 75-foot widths and 120-foot lot depths

SOURCE: CITY OF MONTGOMERY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Also of note City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said approval of the variance requests does not mean the approval of the development’s plans or of a development agreement.

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SJRA discusses $5.8M in projects for Lake Conroe San Jacinto River Authority officials outlined the updated 10-year project plans across the water- shed during a May 22 meeting. The overview The SJRA board of directors received updates from the Lake Conroe and Bear Branch divisions regarding the prioritized projects for fiscal year 2025. In total, the two divisions presented $5.8 million in projects for 2025:

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Restrooms coming to Founders Plaza During its May 22 meeting, Conroe City Council approved a bid for public restrooms in Founders Plaza with a completion goal of before Christmas, Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said. The detail The cost for the restrooms is slated for $156,406; however, it was budgeted to be $300,000—saving the city half of the funds allotted for the project, Mikeska said.

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said. “We’ve had times ... where we back traffic up on Dam Site Road.” Raley also told board members the larger proj- ects involving reconstruction and maintenance of spillways along the Lake Conroe Dam will be prioritized starting in 2029. Funding for the 10-year project plans will come mainly from the SJRA’s repair and replacement fund with a number of grant funds and local matches from municipal utility districts, according to various SJRA officials.

• Lake Conroe Division: $5,499,047 • Bear Branch Division: $350,000

Lake Conroe Division Manager Bret Raley said this year’s focus would be on resurfacing and wid- ening the main entry point to the SJRA facilities on Lake Conroe, as well as installing backup genera- tors at the facility. “It’ll give us greater security and safety,” Raley

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Government

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

Montgomery County requests safety barriers along Hwy. 242 flyovers

Next steps

On May 6, Keough confirmed TxDOT had received the request and state officials are looking into options to fund the project by the end of 2025. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the rate of suicide per 100,000 people has risen from 13.5% to 18.2% in adults age 18-44 from 2013-22. According to the same data, the number of Texas residents who experience five or more bad mental health days in a month has also risen from 23.3% to 29.3% from 2020-23. “This is not just a statistic; it is a crisis affecting our schools, our friends, our families and our community,” Tinnell said. “As a community, we have spent too much time grieving and remembering the names of those we have lost. But now, we must move past words and into action.”

Following a petition which gained nearly 17,000 signatures as of press time, a request to the Texas Department of Transportation to install pedestrian fencing along the Hwy. 242 flyovers at I-45 is under consideration for funding in 2025. The fencing would provide additional barriers for those struggling with mental health issues. College Park High School senior Lacy Tinnell began a petition to install barriers along the Hwy. 242 flyover after losing two classmates to suicide less than one year apart. “These structures were not designed with that protection in mind, and it’s clear that immediate action is needed to prevent future tragedies,” Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said.

Flyover barriers requested

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Transportation

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

Upcoming projects

I L L R D .

1 Hwy. 75 improvements Project: Hwy. 75 will undergo improvements such as underseal base repair and planing between South Loop 336 North and Gladstell Street. Update: According to a May 1 media update from the Texas Department of Transportation, this project was set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. • Timeline: first quarter 2025-fourth quarter 2025 • Cost: $3.3 million • Funding source: state funds LONE STAR PKWY. 2 I-45 high-occupancy vehicle extension Project: Between FM 1488 and South Loop 336 in Conroe, I-45 will undergo a high-occupancy vehicle lane extension. Update: This project is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025, according to a May 1 media update from TxDOT. • Timeline: second quarter 2025-fourth quarter 2025 • Cost: $1.3 million • Funding sources: federal, state funds 149 Montgomery

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3 Hwy. 105 widening Project: Hwy. 105 is being widened from two to four lanes between 10th Street and South Loop 336 in Conroe. Update: According to a May 1 media update from TxDOT, this project is 41% completed. • Timeline: March 2023-second quarter 2028 • Cost: $52.7 million • Funding source: state funds 4 South Loop 336 widening Project: Between I-45 and Ladera Creek Trace, South Loop 336 is being widened from two to four lanes with a continuous left turn lane. Update: This project is 25% completed, according to a May 1 media update from TxDOT. • Timeline: November 2024-third quarter 2027 • Cost: $20.6 million • Funding source: state funds 149

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5 I-45 LED installation Project: Along the mainlanes of I-45 between FM 830 and Shepard Hill Road, high mast LED poles are being installed along. Update: According to a May 1 media update from TxDOT,

this project is 1% completed. • Timeline: February 2025-first quarter 2026 • Cost: $1.45 million • Funding source: state funds

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA

At the May 13 Conroe ISD meeting, Null was presented with a pine box made by ninth-grader Miles Taylor who is part of the Grand Oaks High School carpentry program.

COURTESY LAKE TRAVIS ISD

ANGELA BONILLA COMMUNITY IMPACT

CISD Superintendent Curtis Null reects on career with district After serving as Conroe ISD’s superintendent for seven years, Curtis Null left the district June 1 to begin his new position in Lake Travis ISD, where he was declared the lone nalist for superinten- dent on May 1. Null rst joined CISD in 2000 as a teacher and became principal of The Woodlands High School in 2010. Null became the deputy superintendent of schools in January 2016 and became superin- tendent in 2018, according to information from the district. During his time as superintendent, he led the district during events such as Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19, as well as seeing voters approve two bonds, one in 2019 and the other in 2023. Why did you seek this position in Lake Travis ISD? Honestly, sometimes things just happen. I wasn’t out looking for other opportunities, but when presented with it, it was just intriguing. The timing was interesting for us as a family. Both of our kids are now out of college, and they’ve moved o. They’re out of state. We have a unique family connection to Lake Travis. Thirty years ago, actually, in a boat on Lake Travis is where I asked my wife to marry me. ... It’s a special place for us.

those bond programs are allocating resources that the district will need to continue to grow over the next few years, so the next superintendent will not have to walk in and immediately be in a situation where a bond is needed to either build new schools or to take care of our current schools. What did you learn from addressing natural disasters and emergencies such as Hurricane Harvey and the COVID19 pandemic in your time? [That] people are good ... in the hard times. ... In every one of those situations, people were there to try to help other people and that was really uplifting. That kind of fueled me through dealing with those situations ... to see the good in the community. What do you see for the future of CISD? The community is outstanding. People want to live here. People want to bring their children to go to school here. There are amazing educators in the school district, so I believe we continue to lean on the great educators that are here, that the schools will continue to blossom, and this school district can continue to be kind of the beacon of hope in the community that it has been.

How does it feel leaving the district after so many years? There’s a lot of emotions; it’s a very bittersweet thing. The rst feeling [is] sadness of leaving great friendships that have been built over so long. ... I think the work of the teachers here and the success of our students is something that I’m really proud of. What’s your favorite memory of your time with CISD? The category of favorite memories always involves students, so either time on campus, being involved in something, in a classroom, or being at an event, watching our kids through their pas- sions. Those are my favorite moments, but then also just being with the team. How did you originally get into the education eld? I actually went to college as a pharmacy major and started working as a pharmacist ... and then decided that that was not the right path for me. [I] decided to follow what I believe was my true calling. Both of my parents were educators, and so ... I think I quit ghting what was meant to be and just took the path of education. During your time as superintendent, CISD was able to pass two bond packages. How will those shape the district? Bond elections and bond programs are dicult. The process of, rst of all, creating the right plan and then taking it to the voters. But the district is set up to be very successful moving forward ...

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.

CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION

Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA

WISD school day start times to change Willis ISD schools will begin the day at new times for the 2025-26 school year, district ocials said at the board of trustees’ May 14 meeting. WISD Chief Academic Ocer John Vaglienty presented the adjusted times for the high school, middle school and elemen- tary schools, which dier from the current start and end times by 30 minutes. How we got here Vaglienty said the changes will help the school’s transportation services.

CISD names Ted Landry interim superintendent Conroe ISD board of trustees named Ted Landry as interim superintendent for the district in a 7-0 vote at its May 19 special meeting to discuss the position. What to know The board held the meeting to consider 12 candidates for its interim superintendent. “The board is pleased to announce the selection of one of our very own as interim superintendent and reects our deep condence in Dr. Landry’s leadership, dedication and long-standing service to our CISD community,” the board said in a joint statement on May 20. Landry was serving as principal of The Woodlands High School, according to the district’s website. In March, Landry was named deputy superintendent of Humble ISD and was set to join in June, according to HISD in a news release.

“I have treasured my time at The Woodlands High School and look forward to

continuing to serve the Conroe ISD community.” TED LANDRY, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, CONROE ISD

Landry has 30 years of experience in public education, and prior to working in education he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, according to HISD. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to serve Conroe ISD as interim superintendent,” Landry said in a May 20 statement. What’s next A special board meeting was held May 29 to conduct interviews and hire a superintendent search rm for the permanent superintendent, and Texans for Excellence in Education was chosen.

The new school hours are: Elementary schools

7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 7:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Middle schools Willis High School

SOURCE: WILLIS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Development

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

The Lake Conroe Beach Park held a grand opening event May 24, reopening the public access point to Lake Conroe over a year after it was initially closed. What residents need to know As previously reported by Community Impact , the San Jacinto River Authority approved a new lease agreement March 27 with Leroy, Joan and Soraya Herbert to renovate and reopen the Lake Conroe Park as the Lake Conroe Beach Park following its closure in December 2023. Leroy Herbert is the owner of 1097 Watersports, a boat rental company operating on Lake Conroe that also provides a pirate-themed cruise on the lake. Lake Conroe Beach Park reopens with new amenities

The grand opening included performances alongside a number of vendor stations and a food truck park. The Park features a sandy beach area with rentable cabanas and seating areas. In their words • “We appreciate the Herbert family for preserving and implementing the board’s vision, which is to create a welcoming environment,” SJRA board member Will Faubel said. • “We so appreciate the fact that this park is reopened. It’s got wonderful leadership. We believe that it will be a blessing,” Montgomery City Council member Stan Donaldson said. What’s next? The Herberts said additional improvements to the park will be made in the coming year to further enhance amenities such as an amphitheater and playground area. Soraya Herbert said the group is also still looking at potential community partnerships for additional amenities, as well as continuing to take community feedback on future amenities into consideration.

MARINA DR.

105

LAKE CONROE

MCCALEB RD.

According to the Herberts, future improvements to the park include: Phase 2 (4-6 months to complete)

• Amphitheater project • Recreation area restoration • New playground (awaiting community partnerships)

• Beach area installation • Beach cabana installation

Phase 3 (14-20 months to complete)

• LED board

• Community

to help with communications • Additional water recreation amenities

feedback-based improvements

SOURCE: LAKE CONROE BEACH PARK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Where you receive healthcare matters If you or a loved one are admitted to a hospital, it’s important to feel the facility is safe and equipped with the best care solutions. With so many healthcare choices, it’s comforting to know that a nationally recognized option is close to home. Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital, recently recognized HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland as one of the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety. “It’s important for patients to know how safe a facility is because it confirms that the physicians and staff are working together to create a healing and safe environment with the best possible patient out-comes,” says Elias Armendariz, chief executive officer. “While no one looks forward to hospital visits, it’s comforting to know we are an industry-recognized leader for patient safety.” HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland was recognized with a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades. This means the hospital is a leader in patient outcomes with fewer complications that can commonly happen in healthcare environments. Where you’re treated matters, and HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland is a proven leader in providing safe, effective care. Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital, recently recognized HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe as one of the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety based on their exceptional patient outcomes. Combined with a top tier nursing staff, HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe meets the highest standards for patient satisfaction, proving that where you receive your healthcare matters. If you or a loved one are admitted to a hospital for care, it’s important to know that the facility is safe and equipped with the best caregivers. We are proud to share that our nurses at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe are nationally recognized for their superior nursing practices, achieving the coveted Magnet® with Distinction™ award. Only five Texas-based healthcare systems received this honor from American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This, along with Healthgrades naming HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe as one of the safest hospitals in the nation, makes this facility a clear choice for exceptional patient care. “These recognitions are a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our nursing team and the collaborative efforts of our entire hospital,” said Lacey Rains, chief nursing officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe. “It underscores our commitment to providing exceptional patient care and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.”

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SHSU’s Health Professions Building set for February 2026 opening

Some context

SHSU regents approved the design for the building in February 2024 and held the groundbreaking ceremony for the building that April, per prior reporting. “By being in The Woodlands-Conroe area, we tap into a number of major health care systems,” Zapalac said.

Sam Houston State University is eying February 2026 for the opening of its new Health Professions Building, estimated to cost around $65 million to $70 million, said Ryan Zapalac, dean for the College of Health Sciences. Students are expected to begin using the building in the summer of 2026, which will be located in Conroe next to the university’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. There will be four academic programs housed within the new building—two existing programs and two proposed programs, Zapalac said. “We’ve got a place there, a hub where people are working together, they’re learning together, but they’re learning also how to work together,” Zapalac said.

SHSU Health Professions Building programs Program Size Status

Master of Science in athletic training Master of Science in dietetics Master of Science in physician assistant studies

20 students per cohort 10 students per cohort* 60 students per cohort

Existing program Existing program Proposed program,

CITY CENTRAL AVE.

anticipated fall 2026 start date

Doctor of physical therapy

40 students per cohort*

Proposed program,

anticipated fall 2027 start date

E N TRAL PKWY.

*SHSU IS EVALUATING EXPANDING THE SIZE OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS. SOURCE: SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION

Health care

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

By 2027, Sam Houston State University anticipates kicking off a new master’s program in applied biomedical sciences at its College of Osteopathic Medicine in Conroe, COM Dean Thomas Mohr said. SHSU is working to hire up to four new faculty and staff who would provide oversight to the program while also teaching COM medical students. The goal for the program is for it to be a one-year program, but Mohr said that may change as the college goes through the approval process for it. SHSU to launch new master’s program in Conroe by 2027

Diving in deeper

that if future years of grant funding is not provided by the federal government, the program will continue to move forward, Mohr said. “Nobody is going to lose their job if the Depart- ment of Education no longer funds this grant,” Mohr said. Mohr also said SHSU sees the new master’s program as one that will eventually have multiple pathways: one pathway for students specifically interested in the specialized tracks; one pathway for medical students who could get a usable credential in between applying for medical school; and a pathway for medical students who decide not to go to medical school. “In 30 years of being in academic medicine, it’s always really bothered me that we get students that don’t make it to the end of medical school and they walk away with nothing other than huge debt and no more usable skills,” Mohr said.

In late 2024, the college received a $4.99 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Community Impact previously reported. Mohr said the grant is specifically to help with the creation of new health care-adjacent programs. “It’s a five-year grant, so built into that grant is time for us to really do the planning, really interface with external constituents so we know that what we’re putting together will be valuable,” Mohr said. Mohr said the grant is there to pay for its devel- opment and to subsidize the first couple of years of the program. “This program is being set up by the grant to be a self-sustaining program,” Mohr said. “This is not something that we’re expecting to have infinite years of grant funding.” SHSU officials are also following any changes made to the U.S. Department of Education. Univer- sity and COM leaders have made the commitment

Students will take the same classes and then branch off into one of four specialized tracks:

Stay tuned

SHSU’s master’s in applied biomedical sciences

Medical/health care artificial intelligence

Mohr said SHSU is spending a year talking to companies in relevant industries, which include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies alongside hospital and clinical systems. “We’re continuing to have those high-level discussions to determine how to utilize those four tracks and fill in the details to be immediately applicable for hiring industries,” Mohr said.

Anticipated launch by 2027

Health care technologies

40 students estimated per class, which may increase to 60 students

Regulatory affairs

Both online and in-person classes

Clinical sciences

In-person internship

SOURCE: SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY ANGELA BONILLA & VANESSA HOLT

A statewide shortage in nursing faculty has prompted local health care and higher education officials to take action with a program to bring nurses into teaching roles. The Shared Nurse Academic Practice Partnership Initiative, a collaboration between Sam Houston State University and four hospital systems, aims to address that. “There is a nursing faculty shortage in the United States. ... In Texas in particular, it’s acute,” said Devon Berry, director of the SHSU School of Nursing. As Texas sees a shortage of nearly 46,000 registered nurses this year, SHSU is piloting the program to allow students to get hands-on experience led by nurses who’ve worked in the field for years, Berry said. Initially funded by $999,500 from Texas Higher Education Coordination Board’s Nursing Innovation Program Grants, SNAPPI launched in 2024 with a feasibility study showing SHSU was able to reduce reliance on part-time faculty by 10%, Berry said. Workforce shortages spur partnership

What’s being done

the clinical placement. We have to have enough nurses to train the new nurses,” said Melanie Graves, director of nursing support services at St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands. According to information from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, in 2024, the number of nursing students offered admission was lower than the number of available seats, with the primary reasons being lack of space and lack of qualified instructors.

SNAPPI pairs the SHSU School of Nursing with four major health care organizations in North Houston—St. Luke’s, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist and HCA Houston Healthcare—to provide instruction from working nurses. Students in the program were randomly selected to participate along with experienced nurses, Berry said. “Our struggle really now is … trying to get more nurses educated. And part of that challenge is

Professional nursing program admissions Seats for new students Qualified applications

Percentage of qualified students not accepted

Offered admission

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

35.7% 2022

34.3% 2023

27.2% 2024

41.4% 2021

SOURCE: TEXAS CENTER FOR NURSING WORKFORCE STUDIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Diving in deeper

Licensed vocational nurses Demand Supply

Next steps

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, some factors contributing to the nursing shortage include: • Increase in age for faculty • Increase in early retirements • Leaving for better pay in private or clinical settings “Our hope is, by using the SNAPPI model in which we’re effectively sharing a nurse between a clinical and academic setting, that we’re able to continue to reduce this massive gap that we have in nursing faculty,” Berry said. SNAPPI allows nurses to continue to receive clinical pay while providing support as faculty. “Post-pandemic, the difference between what we pay a nurse in academia and what we pay a nurse in a clinical setting can exceed 30%, and you’re getting paid better in the clinical setting than you are in the academic setting,” Berry said. “So there’s a huge economic disincentive to get engaged with education.”

80,000

As of March 17, SNAPPI was approved for an additional $999,500 grant to help with scaling through replication, expansion and diversification in Texas, SHSU officials said. The expansion could help increase the number of nursing educators, Berry said. Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center leadership will also be meeting with SHSU in late June to discuss that hospital system’s partnership with SHSU. 23% of RNs have retired or plan to retire over the next 5 years. 46 is the average age for nurses. 2032 is the year by which Texas will face a shortage of several types of nurses.

60,000

40,000

20,000

2022

2036*

Demand Supply Registered nurses

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

SOURCES: SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY, TEXAS CENTER FOR NURSING WORKFORCE STUDIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

2022

2036*

*PROJECTION

CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION

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