New School of Medicine unveiled

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler and UT System leadership hosted the grand opening Friday for the new School of Medicine Building, the physical home of East Texas’ first medical school. The five story facility brings education, clinical care and community services together in one place.

According to the university’s website, the five-story facility is LEED-certified, a globally recognized rating system for green buildings. The building includes 16 clinical skills rooms, a student lounge and four simulation labs. In addition to medical education, the building will provide clinical services by UT Health East Texas clinicians ranging from imaging and women’s health to pulmonary, orthopedic and sports medicine care as well as eight fully equipped surgical suites.

Construction on the $308 million nearly 250,000-square-foot building began in 2023. The building is constructed on nearly five acres in Tyler’s medical district with a skybridge connecting to UT Health East Texas’ Tyler hospital, serving as the intersection of clinical care and medical education.

“This building directly addresses the physician shortages facing our nation and especially our region,” said UT System Chairman Kevin P. Eltife. “By training physicians locally and expanding residency programs, we are creating a pipeline of specialists who will strengthen UT Health East Texas, CHRISTUS Health and hospitals across this entire region.”