UH Joins Texas Medical Center as Member Institution

The Texas Medical Center continues to grow and expand its reach by welcoming the University of Houston as an official member institution. The decision is the culmination of several years of discussion between the Texas Medical Center and the university, and is an important step in developing strong education and research collaborations to benefit the Houston community. The University of Houston's College of Pharmacy has been a member since 1980.

"We are delighted to have the University of Houston as our newest member," said Texas Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Richard Wainerdi. "Education is at the heart of this partnership and the collaboration with research, resources and training will improve health care that affects us all. The University of Houston awarded 1,200 baccalaureate and 480 graduate degrees in health-related areas in 2009 and more than half of the university's research awards and grants, more than $61 million, are health-related."

The leaders at the University of Houston will have increased opportunities for collaboration with 47 member institutions including hospitals, academic institutions and support organizations through enhanced participation in numerous member councils and events. Opportunities to partner in areas such as policy development, planning, education and research will benefit all of the current member institutions and the University of Houston.

"This membership is an important step toward realizing our vision for the University of Houston and our UH Health initiative, with faculty and research programs throughout our campus partnering with institutions in the Texas Medical Center," said UH President Renu Khator.

The University of Houston recently recruited Dr. Jan-Åke Gustafsson, a world-renowned physician, scientist and member of the National Academy of Science, to head the new Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling. "Dr. Gustafsson and his research team are developing innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding the root causes and potential interventions for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other complex health problems.

This collaboration of minds, resources and research is essential for improving health care," Khator explained.
In addition to expanding collaborations  and partnerships with Texas Medical Center institutions and the recruitment of Gustafsson, the UH Health Initiative includes construction of a 167,000-square-foot Health and Biomedical Sciences Center that will house laboratories, academic space and surgical facilities; the hiring of a new Dean for the UH College of Pharmacy, Dr. Lamar Pritchard and the recent hire of Dr. Kathryn Peek to serve as a UH Health liaison charged with developing a strategic plan to bring together the university's initiatives and programs in health-related areas of instruction, advancement and research.

ABOUT THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER: The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world and is an internationally recognized community of healing, education and groundbreaking research. Throughout its 64-year history, the Texas Medical Center has been home to many of the nation's best hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers, researchers and educational institutions. The world-renowned Texas Medical Center facilities consist of 40 million square feet of existing, under construction or programmed physical plan space. For more information, visit www.tmc.edu

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, one of the most diverse research universities in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with 37,000 students. For more information about UH, visit the university's Newsroom.


Categories: