Blytheville, Ark. – Local philanthropists Ted “Teddy” Huffman and his wife Cheryl announced a $1.25 million gift to support a planned family‑medicine residency program at Great River Medical Center. The donation, the largest single contribution the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM‑A‑State) has received since its 2016 opening, will help remodel clinic space at the Blytheville hospital and fund the residency’s first‑year operations.
Building a Physician Pipeline for Mississippi County
The Huffmans’ gift will finance the renovation of a clinic that will be named the Cheryl and Teddy Huffman Family Medicine Residency Clinic. “Blytheville is where I grew up and supporting its future matters deeply to me,” Huffman said. “Cheryl and I want this gift to help more families receive care close to home and give physicians an opportunity to build their careers here.”
Mississippi County currently has only eight full‑time family‑medicine physicians. By training doctors locally, NYITCOM‑A‑State hopes to retain more physicians in the area, as studies show physicians often practice near the location of their residency.
State Support and Community Partnerships
The residency effort is bolstered by a $3 million grant from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Rural Health Transformation Program, which will cover startup costs. Additional grants awarded to the Mississippi County Hospital System this summer will fund infrastructure upgrades at Great River Medical Center.
In August 2025, NYITCOM‑A‑State and the hospital system signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a physician‑workforce pipeline, expand health‑education resources, and improve access to care throughout Northeast Arkansas. St. Bernards Healthcare entered a management agreement with the hospital system in January 2026, further accelerating the residency project.
Leadership Voices
“An undertaking of this magnitude requires collaboration between a number of forward‑thinking organizations and individuals,” said Dr. Shane Speights, dean of NYITCOM‑A‑State. “We are so grateful to all who have joined this effort, particularly the Huffmans for being the first private donors. We are truly humbled by their support.”
Architect Marlon Blackwell presented renderings of the redesigned clinic space at the announcement. “NYITCOM’s residency program and the Huffmans’ generosity will help expand much‑needed access to medical care in Mississippi County,” Blackwell said. “We are proud to join in the work at the Medical Center and harness the potential of the Delta.”
About the Donors
Ted Huffman grew up in Blytheville before moving to the New York area after college and service in the U.S. Navy. He is senior managing director and chief strategy officer at Pretium, an investment‑management firm based in Manhattan. Cheryl Huffman is an attorney with experience in securities, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.
The residency program is slated to open in 2027, offering a three‑year training pathway for aspiring family physicians. NYITCOM‑A‑State, based in Wilson Hall on Arkansas State University’s Jonesboro campus, focuses on addressing physician shortages across Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta.
“Like many areas of Arkansas, Mississippi County has great needs but also significant opportunity,” Dean Speights added. “Our work is just beginning, but with the support of so many passionate organizations and individuals, we’re confident the impact will be substantial.”
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
