3 min read September 2023 — Invest: spoke with Dr. William Henrich, president of The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), to discuss the organization’s wide-ranging impact on the healthcare and biosciences sectors in the region and the significant capital investment being made for UT Health’s long-term plans. “UT Health San Antonio sits at the center of this regional enterprise because it provides new doctors, nurses, dentists, health professionals and scientists while simultaneously caring for patients and engaging in groundbreaking research,” he said.
What has been UT Health’s economic impact on San Antonio?
The impact of the institution on the region occurs on multiple levels and in various sectors. First, we are a healthcare institution seeing 2.8 million patients visits per year. Second, we are home to the only academic medical center in a catchment area of about 7 million residents, so our task is not just clinical care but education and research, as well. Our biomedical research programs are at $400 million per year, which covers basic science and clinical research as well as population health research. And, in the domain of education, we have over 3,600 professional students in six schools, which makes us a major talent pipeline for the healthcare sector locally, statewide and nationally. This is so valuable because of the broad shortages in health professionals now seen across the country.
We’ve also launched a School of Public Health with the inaugural class starting in the 2024 academic year. Ultimately, one in six employed San Antonians work in healthcare or biosciences, industries that have a $44 billion economic impact on the region. UT Health San Antonio sits at the center of this regional enterprise because it provides new doctors, nurses, dentists, health professionals and scientists while simultaneously caring for patients and engaging in groundbreaking research.
What are some of the new facilities and renovations on the horizon?
We have an ongoing $1 billion capital campaign for new buildings, with a highlight being the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital that will open in December 2024. We also have a new, large outpatient facility, including ambulatory surgery and subspecialty care that will open in March 2024. There is a substantial expansion in our Mays Cancer Center underway, along with a new Center for Brain Health to meet the needs of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological conditions. Each of these structures come with sophisticated imaging components and are aimed not just at clinical care, but facilitating clinical research. Additionally, we are adding a new science building in 2024 with over $20 million in renovations to existing laboratory space. Demand for research space is increasing so we spend much of our time and resources planning for our research future.
How has the influx of population to San Antonio influenced the economy and markets here?
We must continue to meet the needs and expectations of the people living here, which means we must continue to expand and grow. That is a major challenge for us: creating infrastructure that meets expectations. The population is growing so fast, and the needs are so great, we acutely feel the pressure to provide access. Population growth closely tracks our institutional growth. We will add more faculty, interns, fellows, nurses, health professionals and scientists along with more staff to support our ever-increasing population of patients.
How can healthcare become more affordable and accessible for patients?
The fact is that cost might be the single biggest access barrier for people today. In this country, the cost of medical care is too high for many people to afford. Trying to get an appointment without insurance is very difficult to do. The infrastructure to achieve access for everybody is harder to provide and the people who do not have any means and resources suffer the most. Just getting to the doctor or hospital is a challenge without transportation. Our partner hospitals are trying to meet that need by expanding services to the under- or uninsured and, in our practice, we provide $633.1 million of uncompensated care annually. We understand every life is precious and we continue to open pathways by which people can receive timely care.
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