The double helix. The spiral pattern within DNA. The basic building block of life.
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It inspired the aluminum sculpture created by San Antonio artist Richard Harrell Rogers and installed on the grounds of the University of Texas Health Science Center. But it might equally well represent the South Texas Medical Center as a whole.
Just as life needs the blueprint for growth defined by DNA, so the Medical Center has its own blueprint for current and future development and growth. And this can be seen in the broadening scope of the Medical Center’s facilities, in the continued expansion of advanced care, in the refined technology and ongoing research taking place here.
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The South Texas Medical Center officially started in 1961 as a single medical school and teaching hospital situated on 100 acres in northwest San Antonio. But it has grown into so much more.
With over 900 acres, the Medical Center consists of 45 medically related institutions—various separate medical, dental and nursing schools, twelve hospitals and five specialty institutions. And while it has grown in size, it has grown in impact—serving patients from across the globe and contributing significantly to worldwide medical research.
The Medical Center Alliance has released a strategic physical master plan that addresses improvements necessary to support continual growth and development within the area.
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The presence of the South Texas Medical Center draws many people to San Antonio for health care—not just from the surrounding region, but from all parts of the U.S. and Mexico. But the presence and growth of the Medical Center has improved the life of this city and its residents in many ways. Obviously, it has provided increased awareness and local access to health care. It has offered innumerable career opportunities in the medical, dental and research fields, not to mention jobs in real estate, hotels, stores, restaurants and service businesses that support the area. It has also meant increased population and salary levels, resulting in a broader tax base for schools, roads and other city projects.
To see more about the impact of the South Texas Medical Center in San Antonio city districts please click here.
View the 2010 STMC Fact Sheet.
History of STMC
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The Dream: 1947-1961
The dream of a major health care center in south Texas started small. But over the years, it’s gotten so much bigger. And so much better.
In 1944, community leaders began discussions about bringing a medical school to San Antonio. By 1947 they established the San Antonio Medical Foundation as a not-for-profit Texas corporation to formally pursue this goal—and backed it up with donations of 200 acres of land.
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The Future: 2008 & Beyond
Most of the land held by the foundation has been granted or leased exclusively for medical and health service uses. Today, however, the Med Center area has expanded to become its own community—with multiple office buildings, hotels, apartments, restaurants, shops and services in addition to numerous major hospitals, clinics, research labs, technical and support facilities. And there are approximately 290 acres of foundation land that still await future development.
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The Early Years: 1961-Present
In 1961, their efforts paid off. The University of Texas Board of Regents and the Texas Legislature decided to locate the South Texas Medical School in San Antonio—and the foundation responded by transferring 100 acres to the university for the building site. What’s more, when the board of regents advised that the school be associated with a teaching hospital, the foundation acquired another 150 acres to support this goal. And in the years that followed, it went on to acquire another 554 acres to make sure that there would be plenty of room for future expansion.
From the outset, acceptance of the Medical Center and participation in its initial growth by major independent hospitals and groups were vital. First among these was the Methodist Hospital, followed by a veritable who’s-who list of area hospitals and clinics.
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8 Facts About STMC
Sheer numbers can’t tell the whole tale of the impact that the Medical Center has had on the health of individuals, the lives of families, and the community as a whole. Still, some of those numbers are impressive:
- The current number of employees working in the Medical Center has reached 27,884—an increase of 8% since 2000.
- There were 4,986,064 patient visits in 2008.
- Outpatient usage increased more than 41% since 2000.
- Total estimated annual billings and economic impact of patients coming from outside Bexar County—approximately $600 million.
- Annual budget, including research, for 2008 was $3.340 billion—an increase of 12% since 2000.
- In 2008, total research grants awarded amounted to $208.7 million—a 40% increase since 2000.
- Total investment in facilities and equipment is valued at $2.273 billion—an increase of 21% since 2001.
- Capital projects projected over the next 5 years total approximately $1.238 billion.