Every year, South Texans cast their votes in the YourSA San Antonio Express-News Readers’ Choice Awards, selecting the health care providers they trust most — and the results are in.
UT Health San Antonio, nominated as a Most Trusted Brand, secured first place in multiple categories, including dentistry, orthopaedics and as the region’s best medical group. More than 170,000 voters chose this year’s winners in over 100 categories, with the institution’s pediatric and primary care practices earning second place.
“These achievements reaffirm UT Health San Antonio’s role as a pillar of care in our community and stand as a powerful reflection of the trust our patients place in us every day,” said Francisco Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system at UT Health San Antonio. “We consider this honor both a privilege and a responsibility to continue advancing medical innovation and improving lives across South Texas.”
Changing lives through exceptional care
For our patients, UT Health San Antonio’s recognition is more than an accolade — it’s a testament to life-changing care.
After years of infertility, Erica Chu found a lifeline in UT Health Physicians and Beatriz Guajardo, 47, didn’t just find treatment while navigating the challenges of diabetes and Bell’s palsy — she found support.
“At other places, I felt like I was just being handed medications instead of getting real answers to improve my health. But at UT Health San Antonio, I have real conversations about my diabetes and overall well-being,” Guajardo said. “It’s not just ‘lose weight and you’ll get better’ — they take the time to explore the best ways to manage my health. That kind of care is hard to find.”
For Diana Kiernan, 57, two hip replacement surgeries meant the difference between chronic pain and the freedom to move again. Her latest surgery was performed in February at the newly opened UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital.
“Living without pain is something I will never take for granted,” said Kiernan, a longtime patient of Frank Buttacavoli, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UT Health San Antonio. “He gave me my life back.”
Expanding care to specialized dentistry
UT Health San Antonio’s influence goes beyond its medical clinics.
Ruth Witten, 11, was born with a cleft palate. Going to the dentist presented unique challenges and heartache for her parents. She had been through traumatizing experiences, often leading to long gaps in her dental care.
That changed when her mom, Geraldine Witten, found the Phil and Karen Hunke Special Care Clinic at UT Dentistry, which opened last year and provides care for patients with developmental and physical disabilities.
“There’s never a worry that the visit won’t go smoothly,” Witten said. “They even remember Ruth’s favorite show and have it cued up on the screen for when she sits down. Dr. Jennifer Farrell is amazing — so friendly and inviting.”
While Ruth still dislikes having doctors’ hands in her mouth, she no longer cries through her dental procedures.
“Afterward, she feels so proud of herself that the visit becomes a positive experience,” her mom said. “In fact, just last month, Ruth had a loose tooth and asked to see the dentist. That has never happened before. That’s proof of an amazing dentist.”
A legacy of excellence in dentistry and orthopaedics
Behind these stories are dedicated professionals who make exceptional care possible. SAEN officially announced the winners on Sunday, March 30.
“Receiving this award three years in a row is truly an honor. We feel incredibly humbled to be recognized by the community we work so diligently to serve,” said Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, MBA, dean of the School of Dentistry. “UT Dentistry has provided care to our San Antonio community for over 50 years. During that time, we expanded our services to include not only general dentistry but all dental specialties so that patients could receive any dental service they needed in one location.”
As for UT Health San Antonio’s orthopaedics team, it continues to raise the bar amid rapid growth. Robert Quinn, MD, chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio, attributes the program’s success to a unique blend of academic medicine and clinical expertise.
“Today, we remain at the forefront of orthopaedic innovation, offering comprehensive care for the full spectrum of conditions,” said Quinn. “Our partnerships with organizations like the San Antonio Spurs, UTSA athletics enable us to deliver elite-level care to both professional athletes and the broader community.”
Expanding facilities to meet community needs
In the past year, UT Health San Antonio has significantly expanded its footprint, introducing new facilities designed to meet the community’s evolving needs. Chief among these is our new state-of-the-art hospital, in the heart of the medical center.
“Earning the YourSA awards is not just a reflection of our expertise but of the relationships we build with our patients and the trust they place in us,” said Robert Leverence, MD, senior vice president of medical affairs. “It takes an entire team — physicians, nurses, staff and researchers — working together to provide the highest quality care. I am incredibly proud to see our commitment recognized by the very community we serve, and I’m excited about what the future holds as we continue expand our services to meet the growing needs of South Texas.”