Groundbreaking

TYLER, TEXAS (JANUARY 23, 2023) Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined University of Texas System leaders today to break ground on UT Tyler’s new Medical Education Building, which will house the university’s new School of Medicine and the seventh medical school within the UT System. Governor Abbott, UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, UT System Chancellor James Milliken and UT Tyler President Kirk Calhoun joined hundreds of community members to mark the start of the $308 million project. It is expected to be completed in March 2025.

“As East Texas continues to grow, so does its need for more highly skilled and well-trained health care professionals,” said Governor Abbott. “I am proud to be here today at UT Tyler Medical School’s historic groundbreaking as we celebrate the achievements and progress Texas has made to expand health care access and educational opportunities across our state. Creating this school was a priority in the 87th Legislative Session. I thank members of the legislature, President Calhoun and Chairman Eltife for their hard work to ensure this important legislation reached my desk. Together, we are fostering greater health outcomes for the people of East Texas and empowering the next generation of doctors, nurses and medical staff to serve all Texans.”

The Medical Education Building, a planned five-story and nearly 248,000-square-foot facility, will be constructed on roughly five acres in the heart of Tyler’s medical district in Midtown. It will support interdisciplinary education for graduate medical students, resident training and nursing as part of a medical education program expansion throughout the UT Health East Texas Health System. The facility will include classrooms, simulation labs, clinical and operating room training spaces, and multipurpose event and lecture spaces for the UT Tyler School of Medicine and graduate medical education programs.