University Hosts Groundbreaking for Public Health and Education Building
Thursday, 04 04 2024
$55 million facility will address the region’s health inequities and boost the local workforce
SAN ANTONIO —Texas A&M University-San Antonio celebrated an important milestone today as it hosted the groundbreaking of a state-of-the-art facility that will expand medical research, education and training capabilities and address the region’s health challenges and inequities.
Guests including State Rep. John Lujan, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, and Texas A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa gathered at the University for the special occasion, which kicked off construction of the Public Health and Education Building.
“The Public Health and Education Building will expand education pathways and research opportunities in the health sciences ecosystem for historically underserved communities throughout South Texas,” said Ochoa. “It will also enable A&M-San Antonio to grow its enrollment in health- and science-related courses, enhance academic programs and help build a workforce to provide compassionate patient care for the region. The facility symbolizes the incredible potential of the University.”
The 35,500-square-foot Public Health and Education Building will include administrative and instructional spaces for the Public Health Program, kinesiology labs, faculty offices, classrooms, and administrative support for the College of Education and Human Development.
The space will also support innovative new programs, such as the University’s Public Health Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, which studies and addresses the comorbidities and health disparities that exist in South Bexar County. Currently operating off-campus, the genomics lab will move into the new building when it opens in the fall of 2026.
"Growth has always been slow on the Side Side—until now," said Lujan. "Today is a critical step towards improving the region's medical research and education. This campus is the crown jewel in my district. I'm proud to be part of this wonderful project."
As part of A&M-San Antonio's ongoing mission to improve public health in the region and expand health sciences teaching, and research opportunities, the University has also established a collaboration with A&M Health Science Center and University Health, which is building a hospital, medical complex, and its public health institute next to the A&M–San Antonio campus.
“The Public Health and Education Building will serve as a launchpad for A&M-San Antonio’s efforts to effect change in the community,” said Sharp. “New programs will sprout here to address the health disparities that exist in South Bexar County. This building will also support a partnership between A&M-San Antonio and the Texas A&M Public Health program to prepare high-quality public-health scientists, educators, and specialists. We are educating the educators of Texas.”
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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, the University offers 39 undergraduate degrees and 23 graduate degrees to about 7,620 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center, and the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of 39 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 77 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and approximately 72 percent are the first in their families to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; the University was recently awarded the 2023 Gold Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA) from the Texas Veterans Commission. Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission