On October 5, 1891, 23 students and 13 faculty members gathered in a single building on Galveston Island to begin a new chapter in Texas history. That day marked the official opening of the University of Texas Medical Department, the state's first medical school, and the beginning of what would become UTMB.
What followed was not just the establishment of a school, but the creation of a long-standing partnership between education, healthcare, community support, and philanthropy.
Why Galveston? A Statewide Decision
Ten years before the school opened, the State of Texas held a public vote to determine where its medical department would be located. Several cities competed for the honor. Galveston, then the state's largest and most economically active city, was selected.
Galveston's leaders didn't wait for the state to act, they offered land, financial support, and a clear commitment to hosting the institution. Construction on the school's first building, now known as Old Red, began in 1889.
Education Meets Patient Care: The Role of John Sealy Hospital
At the same time the medical school was being developed, the Sealy family funded the construction of a new hospital in memory of John Sealy, a Galveston businessman and philanthropist. The hospital opened alongside the school in 1891 and immediately became a cornerstone of medical education.
Students didn't just learn in classrooms, they worked directly with patients in the hospital next door, gaining hands-on experience from day one. That model, integrating education with real-world care, has been central to UTMB ever since.
The Early Years: Focused, Practical, and Resourceful
In its early days, the medical department operated with limited staff and facilities. Faculty often taught across multiple disciplines. Students studied anatomy, surgery, internal medicine, and physiology, and applied their knowledge in clinical settings within the hospital.
The resources were modest, but the approach was practical: train physicians to meet the health needs of Texas, particularly in underserved areas.
A Mission That Continues
Since 1891, UTMB has grown from a small coastal medical school into a comprehensive academic medical center with statewide and national reach. The Sealy family's support continued across generations, helping to expand facilities, research, and patient care.
More than 130 years later, the mission that brought UTMB to life, combining education, service, and community collaboration, remains at the core of everything we do.
Image: Class of 1911 – Source: Truman G. Blocker, Jr. History of Medicine Collections and University Archives, Moody Medical Library, UTMB
Image: Election Results Choosing Galveston as Medical Department Site (1881) – Source: Truman G. Blocker, Jr. History of Medicine Collections and University Archives, Moody Medical Library, UTMB