SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAN ANTONIO
A research intensive, community-centric school that’s improving the health of South Texans.
FUNDING REQUEST $20M for the biennium
Overview
The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio, a collaborative initiative between UT Health San Antonio and UTSA, was established to meet the critical public health needs of San Antonio, Bexar County, and a 38-county South Texas region. As one of four public health schools in The University of Texas System, it serves both urban and rural populations with a mission centered on education, research and service.
Led by founding dean Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, a globally recognized public health researcher, the school is committed to training the next generation of public health leaders, researchers and professionals. The school aims to be “The People’s School” by fostering long-term, trusting relationships with the community, ensuring that public health priorities are informed by the people it serves. The school is committed to belonging to all Texans, integrating the public into the very fabric of its mission and education.
The Challenge
Promoting health is essential to building strong communities, and South Texas has a disparate health landscape with growth opportunity. It’s a major reason why Bexar County and the City of San Antonio invested a combined $20 million to help create the school. This funding—combined with funds from additional sources—is being used to support programming areas such as:
» infectious disease
» diseases of aging
» cancer access and stigma
» rural health
» Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Takeaway
» survivorship
» caregiver burden
» mental health and substance use disorders
» access and quality for children and adults
Securing state funding is vital to properly develop and sustain the program areas, ensure access to the latest technology and equipment and attract the skilled faculty essential for success.
Updated December 9, 2024
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAN ANTONIO
Leading with Vision
Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, founding dean of The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio, is a renowned physician-scientist and epidemiologist known for his expertise in cardiovascular health and public health disparities. A 2021 recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association, his extensive research and scholarship enhance public health practices, equipping students and the San Antonio community with a deeper understanding of health priorities and disparities affecting diverse populations. As the former director of the landmark Framingham Heart Study, the nation’s longest-running epidemiological study, Dr. Ramachandran brings both vision and expertise to lead the school in championing impactful health initiatives across the region.
Benefits to San Antonio and Texas
The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio is already making a significant impact.
Since its launch, the school has:
» Established the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL) Study Coordinating Center
» Welcomed its first cohort of Master of Public Health (MPH) students in 2024
By the end of 2024, the school is projected to:
» Create 100 new jobs to support its academic and research missions
» Generate an estimated $20 million in research-related activity annually
With public health-related employment in Texas projected to increase by over 43,000 positions by 2028, the school is playing a key role in meeting this growing demand. As one example, 60% of students graduating from the Master of Public Health program between 2003 and 2020 were employed in Texas within two years of graduation, with 50% remaining in the state after 10 years. These figures underscore the school’s critical role in developing a robust public health workforce to meet Texas’s growing needs.
Through its focus on innovative research, workforce development, and deep community engagement, The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio will continue to be a transformative force for public health education and service in South Texas. By leveraging the combined strengths of UT Health San Antonio and UTSA in fields such as data science, epidemiology and biostatistics, behavioral science, finance and business administration and implementation science, the school will generate a workforce of trained public health professionals to promote the overall health of South Texas. This will be accomplished through:
» New public policy based on science, aimed at better health outcomes
» Enhanced security and protection from infectious disease and environmental hazards
» Improved access to safe and quality care
» Efforts to diminish public health disparities
» Prospective strategic planning for future public health challenges