Odessa College announces Permian Strategic Partnership’s investment in the new Wood Health Sciences Building

ODESSA (July 15, 2021) – The Permian Strategic Partnership has committed to a $4 million investment in Odessa College’s new Wood Health Sciences Building, bringing the 12-month capital campaign to 94 percent of the $40 million goal. This investment brings the total of the partnership pledges to $22,621,500. Odessa College will contribute $15 million to the project.

With a focus on increasing the number of healthcare workers for the Permian Basin, the 83,000 square foot Wood Health Sciences Building will include four floors of instruction and community space to allow more students to enroll in the School of Health Sciences programs and healthcare continuing education programs, with an estimated 64 percent increase in graduates.

“We know there is a great need for medical providers throughout the Permian Basin, and with more than 500 nursing vacancies across the continuum of care, the need for nursing professionals is particularly urgent. Expanding programs and enhancing the training of our students will go a long way towards closing this gap,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership. “This partnership with Odessa College and so many others from our community demonstrates the impact we can have when we work together. Providing greater access to quality healthcare is a core focus area for the PSP and we are excited about the opportunity to make a long-term investment that will benefit our region for generations to come.”

The Wood Family Foundation made the first pledge to the project when they committed $5 million to name the building in December 2020. The following partners joined the Wood Family Foundation in supporting the project: $5 million from the Odessa Development Corporation, $5 million from Medical Center Health System, $1 million from Grow Odessa, $1 million from Odessa Regional Medical Center and $1 million from MacKenzie Scott. 

“The Permian Strategic Partnership’s investment in the Wood Health Sciences Building helped Odessa College reach a major milestone in the capital campaign,” Dr. Greg Williams, OdessaCollege President, said. “We are thankful for the PSP’s endorsement of this important project and appreciate their focus on healthcare infrastructure in the Permian Basin. The expanded capacity in our instructional space will allow OC to accept more students in the School of Health Sciences which will result in more graduates going to work here in the Permian Basin.”

With plans to break ground in September 2021, the new Wood Health Sciences Building’s additional space and technology will allow OC to add more programs and to accept more students into the School of Health Sciences and continuing education programs. This is will also enable OC to produce a minimum of 171 more highly skilled health sciences graduates per year, up from the current number of 269 students. The building will include an additional registered nursing program and licensed vocational nursing program, along with the following specialties to fill the growing number of job openings in the Permian Basin:

School of Health Sciences

Registered Nurses
Licensed Vocational Nurses
Surgical Technologists
Physician Therapist Assistants
Radiological Technologists
Emergency Medical Technicians
Respiratory Therapists
Dental Hygienists
Health Information Managers

Continuing Education

The Permian Strategic Partnership is a coalition of 17 leading Permian Basin energy companies who joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges in five key areas: Improved Healthcare, Public Education, Safer Roads, Affordable Housing and Workforce Development. The 17 partner companies include Apache, BPX Energy, Chevron, Cimarex, ConocoPhillips, Devon, Diamondback, Endeavor, EOG Resources, Halliburton, Occidental, Ovintiv, Pioneer, Plains All American, Schlumberger, Shell, and XTO Energy.