University of Houston and DHR Health Hospital System Establish Medical Research and Education Center

University of Houston and DHR Health Hospital System Establish Medical Research and Education Center in the Rio Grande Valley

New Center will Advance Medical Discovery, Grow the Health Care Workforce and Improve Health Outcomes in South Texas

Key Takeaways

• Major partnership expands UH’s reach to the Rio Grande Valley: The University of Houston and DHR Health Hospital System have partnered to create the UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and DHR Health Medical Research and Education Center, supported by $15 million in state funding.
• Advancing Research, Education and Health Access: The new center will serve as a hub for medical research, clinical training and health education aimed at improving care in one of Texas’ most medically underserved regions and tackling health issues that disproportionately affect South Texans.
• Strengthening Texas’ Health Workforce Pipeline: The collaboration builds on a longstanding UH-DHR partnership to train the next generation of physicians and health professionals, expanding UH’s statewide impact and reinforcing its role as a leader in building a healthier Texas.

HOUSTON – The University of Houston and DHR Health Hospital System today announced an agreement to establish The University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and DHR Health Medical Research and Education Center in the Rio Grande Valley. Supported by a $15 million state appropriation, the new center will serve as a hub for advancing medical research, expanding health education programs and improving access to health care across one of Texas’ most medically underserved regions.

The collaboration brings together UH’s expertise in health sciences and DHR Health’s extensive clinical presence in South Texas to expand opportunities for medical students, residents and researchers while directly addressing the state’s most pressing health challenges.

“The University of Houston is committed to building a healthier Texas, and that means expanding our reach to communities where the need is greatest,” said Renu Khator, president of the University of Houston. “Through this partnership with DHR Health, we are strengthening the state’s health workforce pipeline, expanding our capacity for medical research and ensuring the people of the Rio Grande Valley have greater access to the care and innovation they deserve.”

Advancing Research, Education and Health Access

As part of the agreement, DHR Health will construct a new facility that will house joint research initiatives, clinical training programs and educational partnerships aimed at improving outcomes for conditions that disproportionately affect the Rio Grande Valley region. The facility will also provide dedicated space for UH faculty, students and researchers to engage in clinical and translational research.

“This partnership represents the next step in our vision to grow a truly statewide medical school that trains the next generation of physicians where they are needed most,” said Jonathan A. McCullers, UH vice president of health affairs and dean of the Fertitta College of Medicine. “By combining the academic strength and clinical excellence of UH and DHR Health, we are creating an anchor for medical education and discovery in South Texas, one that will improve lives and advance the practice of medicine across the state.”

DHR Health, one of the largest physician-owned hospitals in the nation, operates more than 70 facilities – including five hospitals – across the Rio Grande Valley and serves as a major training site for physician residencies, nursing and pharmacy programs. The system is home to the DHR Health Institute for Research and Development, a leading center for clinical research in South Texas.

Building on a Longstanding Partnership

The establishment of this new Medical Research and Education Center builds on a longtime partnership between UH and DHR Health. In 2017, the organizations launched the UH College of Pharmacy Rio Grande Valley Pharm.D. Satellite Program to expand clinical pharmacy services, engage in research projects to improve health outcomes, and provide new education and training opportunities for future pharmacists to serve communities in the RGV.

“Our mission has always been to elevate the quality of health care and medical education in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Susan Turley, president of DHR Health. “Partnering with the University of Houston allows us to accelerate that mission and bring new resources, research collaborations and training opportunities to the region. Together, we are investing in a healthier future for South Texas.”

The establishment of the Medical Research and Education Center marks a major step in UH’s long-term strategy to strengthen the state’s health care infrastructure and expand its footprint as a comprehensive health sciences university.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city and one of the most culturally rich regions in the country, UH enrolls nearly 49,000 students.

About the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

The Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine is the City of Houston’s first new medical school in 50 years. The UH Board of Regents voted to establish it in 2017, and the Texas Legislature authorized the plan in 2019. The inaugural class of 30 students started in 2020.

The Fertitta College of Medicine is built on an important social mission – to improve the overall health and health care of greater Houston, the state of Texas and beyond. It focuses on educating physicians with a deep understanding of the non-medical drivers of health and a commitment to providing high quality, affordable health care to patients in underserved communities.

About DHR Health

DHR Health Hospital System was founded in 1997 by a group of local physicians and business leaders who sought to address the health care access challenges faced by more than 1.5 million residents in a region that historically lacked public and county hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas.

Today, DHR Health has grown to a modern, full-service health care system with over 520 patient beds. It serves more than 600,000 patients annually, employs over 6,000 individuals, provides a full continuum of care across more than 70 medical specialties and subspecialties, and includes five hospitals. It is a nationally recognized hospital system and one of the largest physician-owned hospitals in the United States.

Headquartered in Edinburg, Texas, DHR Health serves the entire Rio Grande Valley region, including Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties. Its growing footprint includes a new sister hospital in Brownsville, and over 75 medical clinics found throughout the upper, mid and lower Rio Grande Valley, and a robust clinical research division. DHR Health also has several residency programs in various medical specialties.

In addition to being the first established Level I Trauma Center in the region, DHR Health is also proud to serve residents of the RGV with the only comprehensive kidney transplant program in the region and offers advanced technologies such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), an advanced life support system, and the ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system. DHR Health is also home to the region’s only free-standing certified women’s hospital, providing the highest level of maternal care in South Texas.

To find out more about DHR Health, visit us at www.dhrhealth.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.