Dear Friend of the System,

Given our state’s many strengths, including a long list of world-class health institutions, many people are surprised – and rightly alarmed – by the serious shortage of doctors and other health care professionals in our state.  Texas ranks 42nd out of 50 states in physicians per capita, 47th in primary care physicians per capita – and with 57 percent of Texas doctors practicing in just five counties, these rankings actually understate the problem in many parts of our state. 

We recently welcomed the inaugural class of students at two new medical schools – Dell Medical School at UT Austin, and UT Rio Grande Valley’s School of Medicine.  Though separated by 300 miles, the two schools have much in common, starting with the fact that the communities they will serve – Central Texas and the Valley – have both been waiting for a local medical school for many decades.  In each instance, it took an enormous amount of support from the community, elected officials, private donors such as the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and taxpayers to turn dreams into reality – and as you would hope and expect, both medical schools are diligently focused on the health needs of their regions.

Our new medical schools are living proof of the power of collaboration, as they grew largely from the pioneering efforts of sister UT institutions.  In Austin, UT Medical Branch in Galveston and UT Southwestern in Dallas laid the groundwork for educating medical students and resident physicians.  In the Rio Grande Valley, UT Health Science Center San Antonio developed the initial programs and facilities that grew into the new medical school. Similarly, in both settings we are fortunate to have hospital partners that have made substantial commitments to supporting medical education.  The lead hospital partner in Austin is the Seton Healthcare Family.  In the Valley, the hospital partners are Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, Valley Baptist Medical Center, and McAllen Medical Center. 

Meanwhile, the inaugural class at UT Rio Grande Valley’s School of Medicine is bringing hope to a region where for too long, aspiring doctors had to leave the Valley to pursue their career goals.  Not surprisingly, many wound up practicing medicine in the urban centers where they were trained, rather than where they were raised. 

These triumphs – the launching of one medical school, let alone two – are the products of an unprecedented collaboration between UT System institutions themselves, and between the System and all the constituencies throughout Texas who rely on it.  Having said that, I’d be remiss not to congratulate Presidents Greg Fenves and Guy Bailey, of UT Austin and UT Rio Grande Valley, respectively.  Congratulations as well to Dr. Clay Johnston, inaugural dean of the Dell Medical School, and Dr. Francisco Fernandez, founding dean of UTRGV School of Medicine. Dr. Fernandez, who after taking on the herculean task of launching a medical school in the Valley, will be returning to teaching and research. We thank him for his extraordinary service.  Finally, please join me in welcoming Dr. Steven Lieberman, a long-time leader at UTMB who has agreed to serve as UTRGV School of Medicine’s interim dean and vice president for medical affairs. I also want to thank my predecessor, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, and the Board of Regents for all of the work they did to make this happen.

Decades from now, the people of Texas will remember July 2016 – the month the UT System proudly opened two new medical schools and helped put Texas on a path to a healthier, stronger, more competitive future.  As always, much of the credit goes to you, and the generous support you provide.  Rest assured, my colleagues and I will be working hard to earn your continued support.  Thank you for reading, and for all you do for The University of Texas System.

Respectfully, 

Bill McRaven

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