The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio proudly opened the doors to its new UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital Dec. 10. The hospital houses 144 beds and 12 surgical suites and focuses on treating cancer patients and those needing complex surgical interventions. The eight-story hospital, located at 8311 Ewing Halsell Drive in San Antonio’s Medical Center, is the only facility of its kind in South Texas, uniquely designed to deliver innovative care for the most complex diseases.
“Our new hospital stands as a testament to innovation, collaboration and a shared vision to transform health care in the community for generations to come,” said Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, acting president of UT Health San Antonio. “The decision to invest in this undertaking was part of the vision of our past president, Dr. Bill Henrich, for what health care could be in San Antonio and South Texas. This hospital stands here today to bring hope to those with incurable diseases who have nowhere else to turn. We will bring the combined talent of our thousands of researchers, health care providers and educators to help shoulder the burdens that these patients and their families carry.”
“Today is a monumental day for our community as we open the doors to the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital,” said Jeff Flowers, MBA, FACHE, the hospital’s inaugural chief executive officer. “This achievement is a result of the dedication, vision and hard work of countless individuals who made this dream a reality. From the initial planning stages to the final details, every person involved has played a vital role in bringing this hospital to life, which stands as a reflection of our shared commitment to delivering exceptional care and meeting the diverse needs of those we serve.”
Take a look back at the hospital’s inspiring journey:
Nov. 19, 2020 — The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved design development plans for the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital to be constructed on 12.2 acres of land in the South Texas Medical Center.
“We are forging a future in which no patient will ever have to leave San Antonio to receive the most advanced, precision-based care. The new hospital will redefine medicine by focusing on predicting, preventing and curing disease precisely.” – William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, past president of UT Health San Antonio
March 29, 2021 — The university broke ground and unveiled the cornerstone for the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital in a virtual ceremony attended by academic, civic and community leaders from The University of Texas System, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, kicking off three and a half years of construction.
“This hospital represents an exciting day for health care in our region and carries our aspirations for UT Health San Antonio to lead a bright future propelled by science, education and clinical excellence.” – William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, past president of UT Health San Antonio
October 17, 2022— University leaders, community supporters and more than 400 construction workers from Vaughn Construction held a topping out and beam-signing ceremony for the new UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital. The ceremony marked reaching the highest point of the nearly half-a-billion-dollar project. The final beam, signed by attendees, was placed at the heart of the structure.
“When the history of our institution is written, this new state-of-the-art center for healing and discovery will be a prominent chapter in the story.” – William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, past president of UT Health San Antonio
“Everything is designed to promote the healing process and help people build up their strength and feel good about their recovery and their experience.” – Jeffrey L. Flowers, MBA, FACHE, chief executive officer of the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital
November 9, 2023 — A dedication ceremony near the construction site of the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital is held to announce the name of the Tom C. Frost Skybridge; an architectural feature connecting the hospital to the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, which enables lab samples and advanced technology to be delivered safely, securely and quickly between the hospital and cancer center.
November 13, 2024— The university proudly dedicates the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital with a ceremony centered around hope and healing.
“Our focus is on delivering patient-centered innovation, where every therapy and research effort will be designed with each patient’s unique needs in mind. This isn’t just a hospital; it’s a place that will offer individualized, life-changing treatments, with the medical expertise of our more than 1,600 medical providers,” – Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, acting president of UT Health San Antonio
“We take the lightning in our very hands, unclench its grip on someone’s flesh and wrap their spirit in a blanket of hope.
We raise our eyes to the skies and search for socorro, for help, and it appears rising from some distant ocean like a wave of warmth.”
-From the poem “Blanket of Hope” by Carmen Tafolla, PhD, 2015-2016 state poet laureate of Texas and inaugural San Antonio poet laureate, written in honor of the dedication.
