J.T. and Margaret Talkington Department of Internal Medicine

Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) officials announced the naming of the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Department of Internal Medicine.

A generous gift by the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Charitable Foundation will establish six endowed chairs within the TTUHSC Department of Internal Medicine. TTUHSC President Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., said the School of Medicine is honored to be a part of the Talkington Charitable Foundation legacy.

“Dr. Cynthia Jumper served as Mrs. Talkington’s personal physician,” Mitchell said. “Mr. and Mrs. Talkington were innovative business people with a deep sense of community loyalty and appreciation of education. A gift from the Talkington Foundation would ensure that the personal treatment provided to Margaret would become the caring model we encourage our physicians and students to apply to every patient-physician relationship.”

TTUHSC internal medicine physicians touch the lives of more than 100,000 patients annually. Steven L. Berk, M.D., TTUHSC executive vice president, provost and School of Medicine dean, said Jumper’s leadership as chairwoman of the Department of Internal Medicine has helped the department maintain levels of exceptional standards of patient care, research and education.

“The Lubbock community will be served as more trained physicians in subspecialties are created,” Berk said. “Establishing these additional chairs in endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious disease and rheumatology is essential to meet the current faculty and educational needs in the Department of Internal Medicine.”

J.T. and Margaret Talkington served and shared a commitment to Lubbock. Through their Talkington Charitable Foundation, their legacy continues to enhance and benefit the Lubbock community through investments, which make the community a better place to live and work for all individuals and families.

Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan said the naming of the first department at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a historic achievement for our university.

“These endowed chairs will ensure a long-term investment in our programs of excellence,” Duncan said. “We are honored to now have the Talkington name as part of Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and thank the J.T. & Margaret Talkington Charitable Foundation for its continued generosity.”

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