DHR Health, University of Houston Break Ground on New Medical Research and Education Center

 

 

McAllen, Texas: The future of health care in the Rio Grande Valley moved forward as DHR Health and the University of Houston broke ground on a new medical research and education center — a milestone investment that will expand health education programs and improve access to care in one of Texas’ most rapidly growing and high-demand regions.

 

“This groundbreaking symbolizes the start of an exciting new chapter for the Fertitta College of Medicine, while expanding the role of the College of Pharmacy,” said UH President Renu Khator. “We are honored to partner with DHR Health, whose vibrant growth and unwavering dedication have established it as a premier, nationally recognized leader in physician-led care. Together, we are expanding horizons for our students and researchers, while improving health in the fast-growing Rio Grande Valley.”

 

The center will serve as a hub for training physicians locally, advancing translational, community-based research that addresses critical health challenges and strengthening the region’s health care system.

 

“This partnership is now becoming a reality in a way that will directly impact how we train physicians and deliver care in South Texas,” said Jonathan A. McCullers, UH vice president of health affairs and dean of the Fertitta College of Medicine. “Working alongside DHR Health, we are creating new opportunities for hands-on training and advancing research that addresses the region’s most pressing health needs.”

 

 

The initiative was made possible through strong support from state leadership, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman and House Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen, as well as members of the Rio Grande Valley legislative delegation.

 

“This project reflects years of collaboration with state and regional leaders who understand the importance of expanding access to health education and care in South Texas,” said Jason Smith, vice president for government and community relations at UH. “Their support has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life and ensuring the University of Houston can continue to serve communities across the Rio Grande Valley.”

 

The state-of-the-art center in McAllen will span four stories and 64,000 square feet, designed to support a range of clinical training, research and academic activities. The building, designed by Martha L. Hinojosa of FIRM Consultants, Inc., will include dedicated space for classrooms, collaborative research, simulation-based learning and faculty offices — creating an integrated environment where education and patient-centered research intersect. Construction will be led by Cantu Construction.

 

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, is headed by renowned global health leader and epidemiologist, Dr. Scott R. Lillibridge.

 

“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 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.

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.

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.