Follow
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.
Established in 1891 as the University of Texas Medical Department, UTMB has grown from one building, 23 students and 13 faculty members to a modern health science center with campuses in Galveston, League City and Angleton, more than 3,200 students and about 900 faculty.
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 $3.3 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 Professions, Public 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.
The University of Texas Medical Branch is naming its School of Medicine the John Sealy School of Medicine in honor of the 19th century Texas entrepreneur and philanthropist John Sealy and the foundation that was established decades after his death to continue his legacy of support. Over the past 100 years, The Sealy & Smith Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to UTMB, one of the largest cumulative contributions in history to an American institution.
“On behalf of The Sealy & Smith Foundation, we are grateful for this incredible recognition from UTMB and the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System,” said John Kelso, Foundation president. “UTMB’s School of Medicine has long been a leader in medical education, research and clinical care. We are honored to contribute to UTMB’s mission to improve health in Galveston and, in doing so, help the university expand its impact on the health of our region and well beyond.”
The Sealy & Smith Foundation was formed in 1922 by John Sealy’s descendants — son John Sealy, daughter Jennie Sealy Smith and son-in-law R. Waverley Smith — for “the support of a charitable undertaking in the City of Galveston, Texas.”
With its mission to ensure health care for the residents of Galveston and the relationship with UTMB, today, the foundation is the largest single-entity contributor to a University of Texas System institution.
The organization’s support over the past 100 years has positioned UTMB as a leader in health sciences education, research and patient care delivery. Thanks to Sealy family and Sealy & Smith Foundation support, UTMB—the state’s first medical school—has grown into a major academic medical center that continues to care for Galvestonians while improving health worldwide.
The Foundation’s contributions have been instrumental in starting and supporting initiatives vital to the university’s mission. Examples include construction of UTMB’s hospitals, the establishment of the Galveston National Laboratory and groundbreaking research to address COVID-19. Nearly every building on the Galveston Campus has been constructed and/or renovated through major Sealy & Smith Foundation grants.