Finding the right doctor can feel overwhelming, especially as healthcare becomes increasingly specialized. For many families, the right doctor is a trusted primary care physician who can guide their health from childhood through adulthood—someone who takes the time to listen, answer questions, and build a relationship with patients and their families.
At SHSU Physicians in Conroe, the focus is simple: providing comprehensive, compassionate care for patients of all ages in one place.
The combination of doctors at the practice can provide services for newborns all the way to geriatrics—offering wide-ranging, high-quality care for the whole family. SHSU Physicians serves families across the community and welcomes anyone seeking a primary care doctor, not just Sam Houston State University students or employees.
Dr. Craig Boudreaux, the medical director and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), said he has a lofty—and achievable—goal for the practice. “We sort of want to be the primary care practice in the Conroe area—the practice that all other practices are compared to.”
Dr. Glenda Read, a physician at the practice, said one of the things that attracted her is that, thanks to the partnership with the medical school next door, patients benefit from physicians with a wide range of training and experience working together. “If I have a patient who needs a service, I can often keep them within the same office and not have to go somewhere else to get that done,” she said.
That coordinated approach allows many patients to receive the care they need in one place, while still having access to specialists when necessary.
Primary care at SHSU Physicians emphasizes prevention, a hallmark of osteopathic medicine, while also helping patients manage ongoing health needs. Physicians regularly treat conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses, while also providing services in pediatrics, internal medicine, as well as counseling, with a licensed psychologist on staff.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is also available at the practice. The hands-on approach used by doctors of osteopathic medicine can help diagnose, treat, and prevent certain conditions, particularly those involving muscles, joints, and overall mobility.
Boudreaux said the team can perform minor outpatient procedures, such as skin procedures, and manage injuries like sprains, strains, and even some fractures, coordinating referrals to an appropriate specialist when additional care is needed.
Pediatric care includes vaccine schedules, developmental checkups, and support for parents navigating their child’s health. As patients grow, care continues with services for adolescents, such as required vaccinations and pre-participation physicals for activities like athletics or band. Pap smears, referrals for mammograms, basic well-woman care, and routine screenings are all part of the day-to-day services available. From children and college students to working adults and seniors, the practice provides care through every stage of life.
The style of care at SHSU Physicians focuses not just on symptoms, but on the patient as a whole. Doctors make it a priority not to rush appointments, taking the time to listen to patients, understand their concerns, and develop a care plan together.
Boudreaux said it can be difficult to coordinate mental health support for patients. Having behavioral health professionals available within the same practice allows physicians to connect patients with counseling when it may help their overall health and recovery.
The team is also working to expand convenient services for patients. Plans include on-site lab draws, x-ray services, and expanded ultrasound access through collaboration with faculty specialists at the medical schools.
Boudreaux said thanks to the ties to the Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) the practice has deep roots in osteopathic medicine, a style of medicine founded in the late 1800s by physician Andrew Taylor Still. Still believed the structure and function of the body are closely connected, and physicians should focus not only on treating disease, but also on supporting the body’s natural ability to heal.
Dr. Read said once patients experience care at the clinic, they’ll often notice a difference. “They’ll know we have time to spend with our patients, and we really want to utilize that time to provide comprehensive care to them,” she said.
“It’s a building full of good old country doctors,” Boudreaux said. “In a nutshell, it’s a really good place to start your healthcare journey.” For families across Montgomery, Walker, and surrounding counties, SHSU Physicians is intentionally designed to be a trusted starting point for lifelong care.
While SHSU Physicians works closely with SHSU-COM/Sam Houston State University, it is focused on patient care and service to the community. “The mission of the college is to serve underserved areas, especially rural areas in East Texas,” Boudreaux said. “SHSU Physicians helps support that mission by providing primary care for local families while helping train the next generation of doctors to serve communities like ours across rural Texas.”
As most people know, the state of Texas has a physician shortage (that will probably be close to 20,000 physicians short by 2030, maybe even larger by some estimates). Boudreaux said there are many factors for the shortage, including an aging physician population and an increasing population throughout the state. Addressing the shortage will require more physicians and more opportunities to train and practice in communities across Texas.
The mission is to build more infrastructure to not only train new physicians, but also to keep them here in the state in rural areas, building graduate medical education opportunities and residency programs for them in those rural areas,” he said. The relationship between the medical school and SHSU Physicians allows faculty physicians to continue caring for patients while also helping train the next generation of doctors. “That has been the design since its inception,” Boudreaux said. “Most osteopathic medical schools don’t have a clinic like this. But we felt compelled to have a place for our physicians to stay up to date on the latest medical training.”
That connection helps bring the latest medical knowledge and evidence-based care directly into the exam room. “We wanted to build a clinic the faculty could work in,” Boudreaux said. “All of us are hired as faculty members that work in the clinic. Those clinical faculty (must) maintain their licensure, their board certification, to stay up on current teaching and concepts in medicine they’ll have to be teaching the students. This is a place for them to practice. It’s better to have a place for them to practice that is close.”
Today, the practice includes pediatricians, family medicine physicians, internal medicine physicians, and behavioral health specialists, providing a broad base of primary care services.
Legacy medical schools tend to focus on pumping out more graduates who are interested in specialty medicine. While specialists are necessary, SHSU-COM’s emphasis is on primary care, and mostly in rural settings.
“The cool thing about our practice is that when you come here, you’re going to be seeing a physician,” Boudreaux said. “There may be students and learners in tow, but patients always are cared for by a licensed physician.” Read said the environment also creates meaningful connections between physicians, patients, and future doctors. “It’s exciting to care for patients while also working with students and helping prepare students for the future of primary care.”
That combination of patient care and physician training is part of the larger mission shared by SHSU Physicians and the medical school. “You’re not going to find a smarter bunch of docs who are going to spend their time with you, make sure you’re satisfied with your care, and ensure you have the best care possible when you walk through our doors,” Boudreaux said.
SHSU Physicians
1169 Grand Central Pkwy
Conroe, TX 77304
(936) 525-3600
