Written by Jolyn Bragg
As San Antonio and South Texas continue to grow, so does the need for accessible, advanced healthcare close to home.
While roads, housing and utilities often dominate conversations about growth, healthcare is increasingly just as important, said W. Allen Fink, DO, MHA, chief medical officer for UT Health San Antonio, the clinical enterprise of The University of Texas at San Antonio.
An aging population and rising rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurological conditions are increasing demand for specialized care across South Texas.
Healthcare is a strong economic driver in San Antonio, generating more than $43 billion annually and supporting nearly 200,000 jobs across the region, according to the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. As the region’s academic health center, UT Health San Antonio contributes approximately $3.2 billion annually through patient care, research, education and workforce development.
But for patients, the impact is much more personal.
“The healthcare infrastructure investments we are making today will help determine our community’s access to high-quality care for decades to come,” Fink said.
To meet those future needs, UT Health San Antonio is investing $1 billion over several years to expand its clinical footprint, along with its educational and research impact.
Unlike traditional hospitals built solely around inpatient care, UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, which opened in December 2024, was designed as a fully integrated care and clinical research ecosystem.
“By bringing together outpatient services, advanced inpatient care, clinical trials and specialized treatment programs, patients can access leading specialists, innovative treatments and research opportunities through one coordinated system designed to make care more convenient and connected,” Fink said.
Connecting care, research and access is reflected in other recent expansion projects. At UT Health at Kyle Seale Parkway, which opened in 2024, families can access primary care, specialty care and outpatient surgery in one of the city’s fastest-growing communities. The $100 million, 103,000-square-foot UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health, which opened in December 2025, brings together leading experts, research and innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.
And Science One, approved by the UT System Board of Regents in 2024 and anticipated to open in 2028, will offer 95,500 square feet of wet laboratories, advanced core research technologies and collaborative research environments to support discoveries in cancer biology, neuroscience, aging biology and age-related disease.
“This will help bring promising new treatments from the laboratory to patients more quickly, particularly for diseases that disproportionately affect South Texans, including cancer, dementia and diabetes.” Fink said.
Investment extends to specialized clinical programs, including orthopaedics. UT Health San Antonio’s growing orthopaedic program is expanding access to advanced spine care, sports medicine, rehabilitation and performance services, helping patients recover faster, stay active and enjoy a higher quality of life.
Beyond improving the community’s health, these investments in San Antonio create high-value jobs, attract top physicians and researchers, expand access to clinical trials and strengthen the healthcare infrastructure needed to support the city’s continued growth, Fink said.
“Our goal is to ensure South Texans can access the care they need close to home, from primary and specialty care to advanced cancer treatments, neurology services, behavioral health and groundbreaking clinical trials,” he said. “The investments we’re making today are designed to meet the healthcare needs of our growing community for decades to come.”
Helpful links:
Find providers and appointments at UT Health San Antonio.
Learn about UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital.
Get comprehensive Orthopaedic care from UT Health San Antonio.
Learn about UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health.