Academic Department of Surgery - Odessa | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Welcome to the Permian Basin Academic Department of Surgery

Our general surgery residency program combines a comprehensive surgical education with a supportive and collaborative environment, preparing residents to become highly skilled and compassionate surgeons.

We are an ACGME-accredited program offering two categorical positions each year from our PGY 1 applicants, with a total of 13 residents currently in training. Our program’s strength lies in our diverse surgical experiences, outstanding community faculty, and unique training opportunities in the Permian Basin.

Our residents gain invaluable hands-on experience at two primary teaching hospitals:

Medical Center Hospital (MCH), Level II Trauma Center located in Odessa, Texas
Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH), Level III Trauma Center located in Midland, Texas

These hospitals provide an extensive range of cases, from routine procedures to complex trauma and critical care, giving our residents exposure to the full spectrum of surgical practice. Our residents are trained by a large dedicated team of community faculty who bring diverse perspectives and a wealth of real-world surgical experience. Our faculty members are passionate about teaching, mentorship, and preparing residents for successful careers. The program provides a broad training in General Surgery, Trauma and Acute Care, HPB, Pediatric, Vascular, Colorectal, Minimally Invasive procedures, ensuring residents are well-prepared for independent practice or fellowship training.

Explore our Residency Program

If you are looking for a program with strong operative experience, personalized mentorship, and the opportunity to serve a diverse and growing community, we invite you to explore what TTUHSC Permian Basin has to offer.

Department Chair

Meet our Staff

Shelton Viney headshot Shelton Viney, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Regional Chairperson HSC, Professor, Clerkship Director

Welcome to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Permian Basin Department of Surgery.

The mission of the General Surgery Residency Program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin is to train and graduate competent, confident, and compassionate general surgeons who are fully prepared for independent practice and become eligible to sit for the certification exams by the American Board of Surgery.

Our program is rooted in a rigorous, evidence-based educational environment that emphasizes clinical excellence, surgical proficiency, and continuous professional development. We are committed to cultivating surgeons who are very technically skilled, as well as focusing on professionalism, exemplifying integrity, inclusivity, and the highest standards of patient-centered care with compassion and kindness.

Located in the heart of the Permian Basin—the nation’s largest petroleum-producing region and one of its fastest-growing populations—our residency program plays a vital role in expanding and strengthening the surgical workforce to meet the urgent healthcare needs of this underserved area. Despite a 15% regional population increase in 2023–2024, the surgical workforce has remained stagnant. Our program offers a diverse and extensive case volume, serving a population of over 1.2 million, with the nearest Level 1 trauma center located 120 miles away. Our mission is to train surgeons who are equipped to serve diverse communities with empathy, cultural competence, and clinical excellence in the Permian Basin or any other community.

Sincerely,

Shelton Viney, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Louise and Clay Wood Simulation Center

Curriculum

- Advanced Laparoscopy Skills
- Advanced Tissue Handling: Flaps, Skin Grafts
- Airway Management
- Asepsis and Instrument Identification
- Basic Laparoscopy Skills
- Bone Fixation and Casting
- Central Line Insertion and Arterial Lines
- Chest Tube and Thoracentesis
- Colonoscopy
- Hand Sewn Gastrointestinal Anastomosis
- Inguinal Anatomy
- Knot Tying
- Laparotomy Opening and Closure
- Stapled Gastrointestinal Anastomosis
- Surgical Biopsy
- Suturing
- Tissue Handling, Dissection, and Wound Closure
- Upper Endoscopy
- Urethral and Suprapubic Catheterization
- Vascular Anastomosis
- Gastric Resection and Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Laparoscopic Appendectomy
- Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair
- Laparoscopic Right Colon Resection
- Laparoscopic Sigmoid Resection
- Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication
- Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair
- Laparoscopic Ventral/Incisional Hernia Repair
- Laparoscopic/Open Bile Duct Exploration
- Laparoscopic/Open Cholecystectomy
- Laparoscopic/Open Splenectomy
- Open Inguinal/Femoral Hernia Repair
- Open Right Colon Resection
- Parathyroidectomy/Thyroidectomy
- Sentinel Node Biopsy and Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
- Laparoscopic Crisis
- Laparoscopic Troubleshooting
- Latex Allergy Anaphylaxis
- Patient Handoff
- Postoperative Hypotension
- Postoperative MI (Cardiogenic Shock)
- Postoperative Pulmonary Embolus
- Preoperative Briefing
- Retained Sponge on Postoperative Chest X-ray
- Trauma Team Training

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