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.
Bold Is... Investing in Enhancing Public Health and Community Growth
Promoting health is essential to building strong communities, and South Texas has a disparate health landscape with growth opportunities. 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; survivorship; caregiver burden; mental health and substance use disorders; access and quality for children and adults.
Economic Advantages for San Antonio and Texas
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.
Producing the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders
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.
Transformative Force for Public Health Education
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. This will be accomplished through:
- New public policy based on science, aimed at better health outcomes
- Enhanced security and protection from infectious diseases and environmental hazards
- Improved access to safe and quality care
- Efforts to diminish public health disparities
- Prospective strategic planning for future public health challenges
Bold Is... LEADING WITH VISION
Meet Dr. Vasan Ramachandran
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.
The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are on a path to merge into one premier global university, combining our collective academic, research and clinical strengths to deliver immense value to our community.
