Dear UTMB Colleagues,
Today, I am proud to share extraordinary news for our institution and the communities we serve.
The Sealy & Smith Foundation has committed $180 million to advance cardiovascular care, research, and education in the Sealy Heart & Vascular Institute at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). This historic investment represents the largest philanthropic commitment in the history of UTMB, the largest commitment ever made by the Foundation, and one of the largest to a cardiovascular institute at an academic medical center in the United States.
This transformational support builds upon the initial $50 million from the Foundation that established the Sealy Heart & Vascular Institute and the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine in 2025. Under the leadership of Dr. Hani Jneid, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, executive and founding director of the Sealy Heart & Vascular Institute and vice president of cardiovascular operations at UTMB, the Institute has quickly established momentum around a bold vision for integrated cardiovascular care, research, and education. With this additional $130 million commitment, we will expand that vision and further strengthen our position as a destination for world-class cardiovascular medicine.
The funding will support the development of a state-of-the-art inpatient cardiovascular hub at Jennie Sealy Hospital, a comprehensive outpatient cardiovascular center, advanced imaging capabilities, and expanded research and education facilities. These investments will strengthen our ability to care for patients today while advancing discoveries that will improve lives for generations to come.
In addition, to honor the Foundation’s extraordinary and lasting impact, the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine will be perpetually named the Sealy Department of Cardiovascular Medicine.
As remarkable as these investments are, this moment is about much more than buildings, equipment, or technology. It is about people. It is about the patients who will benefit from earlier diagnoses, more advanced treatments, and improved outcomes. It is about the learners who will train in an environment that prepares them to lead the future of cardiovascular medicine. It is about the researchers whose discoveries will help redefine what is possible in prevention, treatment, and care. And it is about the dedicated faculty and staff whose expertise, compassion, and commitment make UTMB a place where transformational progress can happen.
The partnership between UTMB and The Sealy & Smith Foundation spans more than a century and reflects a shared dedication to improving health and advancing medical excellence for the people of Galveston, the state of Texas, and beyond. This latest commitment is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission, our vision, and most importantly, in all of you. Every day, you demonstrate what makes UTMB special. Through your work, you improve lives, advance knowledge, and strengthen the future of healthcare.
On behalf of our leadership team, thank you for everything you do to serve our patients, students, colleagues, and communities. Together, we are building one of the nation’s premier cardiovascular programs and helping shape a healthier future for generations to come.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD
UTMB President
CEO, UTMB Health System
Professor, John Sealy School of Medicine
John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair