UT Tyler School of Medicine Recruiting East Texans for Simulated Patient Program

Community members sought to play patients in medical student training   TYLER, Texas  – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine is hiring community members to role-play as patients and help train medical students in their communication and non-invasive physical examination skills. The School of Medicine is recruiting all ages, races and socioeconomic … Read more

Gov. Abbott, UT System Break Ground on School of Medicine

Facility will house East Texas’ first School of Medicine, UT System’s 7th medical school TYLER, Texas (January 23, 2022) –Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined UT System leaders today to break ground on UT Tyler’s new Medical Education Building, which will house the university’s new School of Medicine and the 7th medical school within the UT … Read more

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine receives SACSCOC approval for M.D. program

M.D. program approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Tyler, Texas – Last week, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine received approval for their Doctor of Medicine program from SACSCOC. Earlier this year, the School received Preliminary Accreditation from the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). … Read more

UT Regents Approve $308M for UT Tyler Medical Education Building

Investment will improve health outcomes and enable new economic development AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas Board of Regents today gave final authorization for design, development, and additional construction funding for the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine’s new Medical Education Building – approving a total project cost of $308 million for the … Read more

$5 Million Gift Continues Momentum for UT Tyler School of Medicine

Gift will cover full tuition for second class of students, help address physician shortage TYLER, Texas (September 13, 2022) – The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) announced a $5 million gift to the School of Medicine from Ednamae Walsh. The gift will support scholarships and pathway programs for the medical school. “This generous … Read more

Regents Approve $100 Million Allocation to Support the UT Tyler School of Medicine

– Investment will enable new medical school to make immediate impact and grow – Austin (August 25, 2022) – The University of Texas Board of Regents today approved an allocation of $100 million in Permanent University Fund (PUF) bond proceeds over the next 10 years that will help fund capital expenses associated with the start-up … Read more

UT Tyler Health Science Center Receives More Than $3 Million in CPRIT Grant Funding

– Funding to address cancer prevention disparity needs – TYLER, Texas (August 23, 2022) – The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Oversight Committee approved approximately $3.5 million to The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center (HSC) to fund two CPRIT cancer prevention related programs. “I am so proud of our … Read more

The Robert M. Rogers Foundation Gifts $10 Million

‘Transformational’ gift addresses mental health care needs in East Texas TYLER, Texas (July 18, 2022) – The University of Texas at Tyler announced a $10 million gift from The Robert M. Rogers Foundation to its School of Medicine to support mental and behavioral health education. In recognition of this gift, the university will name its … Read more

School of Medicine Receives Notice of LCME Preliminary Accreditation

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine has received notification from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) that it has been granted preliminary accreditation, a monumental milestone that will allow the school to begin recruiting its first class of medical students for 2023.

“Many individuals have worked for years with relentless determination to make this medical school a reality. We have celebrated milestones along the way, and this is another significant one, because it means we are now ready to open the doors to medical students in Tyler,” said Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents. “By extension, it means opening doors to individuals who seek greater access to healthcare. It means enhancing our region as a destination point to live, train, work, and contribute to our economic vitality.”

“This achievement is the result of a transformative gift from the ETMC Foundation and both the visionary governance and the resources from the UT System Board of Regents.  Additional support from elected leadership, donors and the community were essential to the medical school moving forward. I thank our vice provost, dean and faculty for their expertise in guiding us through this complex process and bringing us one step closer to enrolling our first class in July 2023,” said Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, UT Tyler president.

In preparation to launch the medical school, UT Tyler announced Brigham C. Willis, MD, Med, FAAP as the founding dean. Willis, who last served as associate dean for medical education at the University of California, Riverside, will lead the recruitment efforts of new students and establishment of the curriculum and facilities for the school. “This notification allows us to launch the next phase of accepting student applications and conducting interviews,” Willis said. “I am very excited about the next phases in the process. We owe a great thanks to Dr. Sue Cox, our associate dean of continuous quality improvement and accreditation, for leading this accreditation effort.”

Following years of strategic planning that included funding, partnerships, and legislative and regents’ authorization, the UT Tyler School of Medicine met the established standards for structure, function and performance set by the LCME.

“I am grateful for the guidance and support of Chairman Eltife and the UT System Board of Regents and executive leaders, the Texas Legislature, faculty, staff and community members for joining forces to pave the way for our new school of medicine,” said Julie Philley, MD, executive vice president for health affairs and vice provost. “I am excited to not only participate in its launch, but to witness firsthand the way it will transform our community.”

The vision for the School of Medicine is to train committed, empathic, diverse and exceptional physician leaders to significantly reduce health disparities and enhance the quality of life in rural East Texas.  

Full accreditation for the School of Medicine is expected after the first class of students matriculates and the LCME determines that the school has demonstrated the effectiveness of the education program and continued compliance.

“From regents to elected officials, community leaders to philanthropists, and the UT Tyler leadership, everyone has shared in the equity in this effort, and I could not be happier for UT Tyler and East Texas,” added Eltife.