Gov. Abbott Announces $5.5 Million to Expand Primary Care Training for Texas Medical Students

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott announced $5.5 million in Statewide Preceptorship Program grants to support hands-on clinical training for Texas medical students pursuing careers in primary care.

The three grants will fund training opportunities in family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics, including pediatric subspecialties, with an emphasis on preparing physicians to serve rural and medically underserved communities.

"Texas families deserve quality primary care close to home," Abbott said. "These grants will give medical students early hands-on experience with practicing physicians so they can pursue careers that bring that care to rural and underserved communities. The Statewide Preceptorship Program delivers the mentorship and real-world tools students need to expand access for Texans across the state."

The program is designed to strengthen the state's primary care workforce by introducing medical students to the field early in their education and providing firsthand experience alongside practicing physicians.

Students typically complete their preceptorships during the summer between their first and second years of medical school. The program encourages students to train in communities outside the geographic area of their medical school, exposing them to new practice settings and increasing the likelihood they will pursue careers in high-need areas.

"The Statewide Preceptorship Program is a prime example of how we are leveraging existing workforce expertise towards building new healthcare talent across Texas," Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser said. "Students gain valuable hands-on experience and mentoring in real-world healthcare settings, which is essential to expanding the network of primary care doctors dedicated to improving lives across all areas of Texas."

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which has administered the Statewide Preceptorship Program since its creation in 1978, awarded the following grants for the 2026-27 funding cycle:

• Texas Pediatric Society: $1,941,708
• Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians: $1,616,666
• Texas Academy of Family Physicians: $1,941,709

The grants are intended to expand mentorship opportunities and encourage more future physicians to enter primary care specialties that are in high demand across Texas.