• Collage of Angleton, League City, Galveston, and Clear lake Campuses

  • UTMB Researcher looking through equipment

  • Smiling daughter and Mom looking at laptop

  • graduating students smiling and waving

  • Collage of historic Old Red photos

About UTMB Health

The University of Texas Medical Branch

For more than 130 years, UTMB has stood with Texas—training today and tomorrow's health care workforce; working to better understand and treat illness and injury; providing care of for Texas families; and innovating new ways to improve health.

UTMB opened in 1891 as the nation’s first public medical school and hospital under unified leadership—already a pioneer. What began as one hospital and medical school building in Galveston is now a major academic health sciences center of global influence; a world-renowned research enterprise; and a growing, comprehensive health system with hospitals on four campuses and a network of clinics. UTMB has a $4.9 billion annual statewide economic impact, in terms of business volume, personal income and durable goods purchases. More than 46,000 jobs in Texas are directly or indirectly attributed to UTMB.

UTMB includes schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health ProfessionsPublic and Population Health, and Graduate Biomedical Sciences.  It has four institutes for advanced study; a major medical library; a network of hospitals and clinics that provide a full range of primary and specialized medical care; and numerous research facilities. UTMB is a part of The University of Texas System and a member of the Texas Medical Center.



Welcome to our Community

For more than 130 years, the university has maintained a forward-thinking spirit that has enabled it to serve its students, its patients and people in Texas and beyond in innovative ways.

That pioneering spirit is alive and well today, enabling us to honor our legacy even as we expand our focus to improve health care worldwide. The members of the UTMB community share a deep commitment to service, an enduring dedication to excellence, a strong desire to blaze new trails and a great willingness to leverage their extraordinary expertise.

UTMB Through the Ages

1881

Galveston chosen as site for University of Texas Medical Department by popular vote of state’s citizens

1881 Old Galveston Aerial

1884

A $50,000 bequest from Galveston businessman John Sealy is designated for construction of a hospital in Galveston

thmb_1884-John-Sealy-Portrait

1890

John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses holds first classes

John Sealy Hospital opens

thmb_1890-Old-John-Sealy

1892

Three men receive medical degrees from the Medical Department