The Texas Medical Center Board of Directors recently approved the full membership of UTMB into the Texas Medical Center making it the 49th member institution of the largest medical center in the world.

“As a member of the Texas Medical Center, UTMB will be collaborating more closely with other member institutions and this relationship will further increase the combined level of expertise that will be a material benefit to citizens throughout Texas and beyond,” said Texas Medical Center President and CEO Richard E. Wainerdi.

The official announcement was made by Wainerdi and UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender at a press conference in Levin Hall on March 2.  The press conference was attended by UTMB employees, community leaders and dignitaries including Galveston Mayor, Lyda Ann Thomas, State Senator Joan Huffman, State Representative Craig Eiland, Michael C. Doherty, Executive Director, Sealy and Smith Foundation, John Eckel, Board Member, Sealy and Smith Foundation, James B. Galbraith, Board Member, Sealy and Smith Foundation, Thomas J. Perich, Chair, UTMB Development Board and Fred Burns, Vice Chair, UTMB Development Board.

“We are honored to become the newest member of such a highly-regarded organization,” said Callender. “Collaboration is a key to expanding excellence among Texas Medical Center institutions and, ultimately, our collective ability to address the health needs of a rapidly growing region. While Galveston will always be UTMB’s home, the people we serve will benefit as we strengthen connections with fellow Texas Medical Center institutions to ensure the Houston/Galveston region remains a leader in health sciences education, research and patient care well into the future.”

The Texas Medical Center was founded in 1945 and is composed of 49 institutions, all of which are self-governing. Half are agencies of government: federal, state, county, city and local and the other half are private not-for-profit institutions, several of which are large health care systems. The goal of the Texas Medical Center institutions is to improve the health status of people everywhere through research, education and patient care.