Sam Houston State University’s Montgomery College of Osteopathic Medicine will begin recruiting its first class of medical students after receiving pre-accreditation status, according to a press release. By becoming pre-accredited, Sam Houston State—located off S. I-45 in Conroe—has been recognized as being in the process of attaining accreditation, or government recognition of quality education, according to the U.S. Department of Education. “This decision allows Sam Houston State University to begin recruiting its first cohort of medical students, who, upon graduating, will dramatically improve access to high-quality health care in rural Texas. Congratulations to Dr. Dana Hoyt and her team for successfully launching the first medical school in our System,” said Brian McCall, chancellor of the Texas State University System, in the press release. The press release said the university will also collaborate with local hospitals to establish residency training programs for students to serve their own communities. The university has 22 such programs established in East Texas. The 108,000-square-foot facility is under construction, and is expected to be finished well before students arrive in August 2020. The university has already hired four deans as well as more than 26 faculty and staff members, with specializations in biochemistry, physiology, pathology and anatomy.