Huffmans Give $1.25 Million for Planned Blytheville Family Medicine Residency

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — Blytheville native Ted “Teddy” Huffman and his wife, Cheryl, announced a $1.25 million gift Wednesday to support a planned family medicine residency program at Great River Medical Center.

The donation to New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University is the largest single gift the medical school has received since opening in 2016, according to the school.

Part of the money will pay to remodel clinic space at the Blytheville hospital for the residency program, which NYITCOM at A-State plans to open in 2027. The space 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,” Ted 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.”

Training Physicians in Mississippi County

The residency is part of a joint effort by the medical school and local health care partners to expand physician training in rural Arkansas. Mississippi County currently has eight full-time family medicine physicians, according to the school.

Residency programs provide specialty training after medical school. NYITCOM officials said a majority of physicians practice near where they complete their residencies, making local training opportunities a potential way to recruit and retain doctors.

“What drew us to this effort is the opportunity to meet an immediate need while building something lasting,” Cheryl Huffman said. “We hope our support encourages others to help advance the program’s initiatives.”

The school said a $3 million grant through Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Rural Health Transformation Program will help cover startup costs. Separate grants the Mississippi County Hospital System received this summer will fund infrastructure improvements at Great River Medical Center.

NYITCOM at A-State and the hospital system signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2025 to work on a physician workforce pipeline, health education resources and access to care in Northeast Arkansas.

St. Bernards Healthcare entered a management agreement with the hospital system in January 2026. The medical school said St. Bernards’ involvement has helped move the residency project forward.

“An undertaking of this magnitude requires collaboration between a number of forward-thinking organizations and individuals,” said Dr. Shane Speights, dean of NYITCOM at 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.”

Clinic Renovation Planned

Architect Marlon Blackwell presented renderings of the redesigned space during Wednesday morning’s announcement at Great River Medical Center. Blackwell will lead the renovation work, according to the school.

“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.”

Ted Huffman grew up in Blytheville before settling in the New York area after college and service in the U.S. Navy. He is senior managing director and chief strategy officer at Pretium, a Manhattan-based investment management company. Cheryl Huffman is an attorney with experience in securities, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

NYITCOM at A-State opened in 2016 through a partnership between New York Institute of Technology and Arkansas State University. Based in Wilson Hall on A-State’s Jonesboro campus, the medical school focuses on training physicians to address shortages in Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta.

“Like many areas of Arkansas, Mississippi County has great needs but also significant opportunity,” Speights said. “Our work is just beginning, but with the support of so many passionate organizations and individuals, we’re confident the impact will be substantial.”