UMC CEO Mark Funderburk posted a statement titled a public notice on the hospital's social media. He said UMC wanted its own OB-GYN practice in 2021, and that doctors need a clinical faculty appointment from the Texas Tech School of Medicine to practice at UMC. Dr. Amy Richard and Dr. Amber Coon held those appointments. When the two resigned, he said, the School of Medicine told UMC it will no longer grant appointments to replace them.
Texas Tech disagrees. The health sciences center said UMC violated state law when it hired the two doctors in 2021, and that the School of Medicine granted the appointments to accommodate them. It also said UMC is undermining recruitment by trying to hire doctors in violation of law and a master coordinating agreement between the two institutions.
Texas Tech added that the university deeded the land UMC sits on under a promise it would be a teaching hospital, and that UMC has abandoned efforts to fulfill the deed. Funderburk said he is hopeful a solution will emerge to meet what he described as a need for these services.
The two doctors are now in talks with Texas Tech about new employment opportunities.