Purpose in Action: Shaping the Future of Health
STRATEGIC PLAN FY27
Where Purpose Meets Passion.
D R I VEN B Y P UR P OSE, PO W E RE D B Y PA S S I O N . | S T R AT E G I C P L A N F Y 2 7
Driven By Purpose,
At The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), purpose and passion come together to define what’s next in health. We are creating new ways to teach the healing arts and sciences, preparing the next generation of health professionals to lead in a rapidly changing world. By accelerating breakthroughs in chronic and infectious diseases and harnessing technology in more innovative, connected ways, we are transforming research, education, and patient care.
Our Mission To improve health by delivering innovative education and training, pursuing cutting-edge research, and providing the highest quality patient care.
Our Vision We work together to define the future of medicine in education, research, innovation, and patient care.
01
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
Powered By Passion.
Healthy living and healthy aging are advanced through initiatives that unlock the full potential of brain health, cognitive performance, and human connection as essential drivers of well-being and societal progress. Through community partnerships, we are promoting healthier lifestyles, strengthening social connection, and improving the conditions that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Our Strategic Plan builds upon the strong foundation we have created and leverages our strengths across clinical care, education, research, and innovation. As the healthcare landscape evolves, UTMB will remain strategic, agile, and bold, advancing discovery, preparing future leaders, and delivering exceptional care to improve lives in Texas and beyond.
Designed to anticipate the needs of the future, our healing environments and expanded access to world-class care will better serve the growing communities that rely on us.
Areas of Focus
Our Values
People Clinical Care Education Research Innovation Operational Excellence
Integrity Nurture Synergy Passion Initiative Respect Excellence
02
PE OPL E | ST R AT EG I C P L A N F Y 2 7
People
Metrics:
The people at UTMB drive our impact and success. An engaged workplace enables UTMB to attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent and foster collaboration, excellence, and impact across our mission, locally and globally.
Recruitment and retention rates Turnover rates
Ensure a thriving, inclusive workforce: • Transform wellness to promote brain health and resilience and equip the workforce with cognitive and AI-enabled capabilities. • Enhance the Employee Value Proposition, modernize job architecture and compensation, and expand career pathways to attract and retain exceptional talent in priority roles.
• Build stronger pathways into health professions, research, and biomedical careers through partnerships with K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and community organizations. • Reduce reliance on premium labor in critical areas to strengthen workforce stability and optimize the benefits of the Paid Time Off program at UTMB.
Pipeline programs to employment conversion rates Faculty and staff satisfaction and engagement Faculty promotions to senior ranks and tenure/non-tenure tracks Creation of new endowed chairs/ professorships Time-to-promotion benchmarks vs. peer institutions Faculty innovation and entrepreneurship involvement (startups, consulting, policy impact) Faculty/staff wellness and burnout metrics (baseline + improvement trends)
03
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
790
residents
1,224 faculty members
17,567
total workforce members
102
15,451
post-docs
staff
Foundation
04
C LI NI C A L CA R E | ST R AT E GIC P L A N F Y 2 7
Clinical Care Exceptional clinical care improves health and strengthens the communities UTMB serves. UTMB advances its vision by integrating accessible, patientcentered care with research, education, and innovation to achieve better health outcomes and extend its impact.
Deliver exceptional care and expand our reach:
Metrics: National rankings Patient experience Patient access Primary care and specialty care visits Hospital discharges Outpatient procedural volumes Market share
• Achieve nationally recognized performance in quality, safety, and patient outcomes. • Expand priority service lines and access, develop innovative care models, and invest in facilities and services to meet current demand and support future growth. • Differentiate UTMB through leading programs in heart care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, brain health, gene therapy, precision medicine, and other emerging therapies.
05
• Optimize patient flow, capacity, resource utilization, pharmacy performance, and participation in alternative payment models. • Enhance patient engagement and experience through personalized, patient-centered care.
Length of stay Clinical supply costs Slot utilization
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
44,386
hospital discharges
1.72 million outpatient encounters
149,211
emergency department visits
Growth
6,171
deliveries in L&D units
06
E DUCATION | ST R AT EG IC P L A N F Y 2 7
Education
Metrics:
Education prepares future health professionals and supports the educators who develop them. Transforming how UTMB educates and develops health professionals advances its vision by preparing learners to lead, collaborate, and improve healthcare in an increasingly complex, interconnected world.
National program and school rankings Accreditation status and outcomes Match rates
Prepare future healthcare leaders:
Graduation rates Pass rates Enrollment rates, trends, and growth
• Strengthen academic quality, reputation, and rankings across all schools to reinforce our position as a leading academic medical center. • Integrate AI, advanced analytics, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies responsibly into education and clinical training to prepare learners for evolving practice. • Strengthen faculty and staff career development, recognition, and leadership programs to establish UTMB as a national and international leader in academic and staff career development.
07
• Develop programs in emerging fields and align curricula across schools to integrate research, clinical care, innovation, technology, and population health. • Expand simulation, immersive and interprofessional education, clinical rotations, and community-based learning across Texas and internationally to prepare practice-ready graduates.
Job placement rates Number and quality of academic programs and courses Expansion of dual-degree, interdisciplinary, and global programs Graduate debt-toincome and financial aid accessibility metrics
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
820
undergraduate students
2,815
graduate students
3,635
total students
3,305
from Texas
271
from out of state
Future
59
international students
08
RESE A R CH | ST R AT EG IC P L A N F Y 2 7
Research
Metrics:
Research expands knowledge, drives discovery, and creates new opportunities to improve health. Its influence extends across patient care, policy, and practice, shaping health outcomes locally and globally. Expanding the scale and reach of research at UTMB advances our vision by generating knowledge and translating discovery into better health, care, and policy.
Research funding awarded
Drive innovation and discovery in health science:
Research output (publications, presentations, citation impact, h-index)
• Increase NIH funding and strengthen national research standing through high-impact discovery, innovation, and scientific leadership. • Advance translational research from laboratory discovery to clinical investigation in priority areas including aging, cardiovascular health, kidney and metabolic health, chronic disease, and therapeutic discovery. • Leverage the Galveston National Laboratory and strategic collaborations to attract new partnerships, diversify funding, and expand research capabilities and infrastructure.
09
• Advance research in neuroscience, neuroengineering, neurobionics, dementia prevention, and longevity to improve health and quality of life across the lifespan. • Lead international research collaborations that address complex health challenges and extend the impact of discoveries across diverse populations.
Blue Ridge rankings Cost and efficiency of research core infrastructure
Clinical trial activity and outcomes Interdisciplinary and translational research collaborations Innovation-tomarket cycle time (from discovery to implementation/ commercialization) Growth in global research collaborations and partnerships with international institutions
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
193 NIH grants
awarded for the year
$393,000
average award size per principal investigator
$131.9 million NIH dollars awarded with contracts
Impactful
$172.7 million total sponsored research expenditures
10
I NNOVATION | ST R AT EGIC P L A N F Y 2 7
Innovation
Metrics:
Innovation moves discoveries and promising ideas from concept to impact. By accelerating commercialization, implementation, adoption, and scale, UTMB can improve care, address emerging challenges, and distinguish itself in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
Licensed technologies to external entities, patents, start-ups, discoveries Adoption/utilization rates of new technologies in clinical care and education
Transform ideas into impact: • Expand the Life Science Incubator and advance faculty and student entrepreneurship through start-up acceleration, seed funding, commercialization, and academic-industry partnerships. • Test and scale agetech solutions, smart environments, and care models that promote independence, prevention, healthy aging, and quality of life across the lifespan.
11
Commercialization revenue generated from technology transfer, licensing, and start-up equity • Deploy and evaluate solutions for chronic disease prevention, healthy living, and population health through institutional and community partnerships. • Redesign care models, including primary care, to emphasize prevention, longevity, whole-person wellbeing, and proactive health management rather than episodic treatment.
Number and scale of industry, foundation, and governing partnerships supporting innovative initiatives Faculty, staff, and student participation in entrepreneurship programs (incubators, accelerators, seed funding, awards) Time-to-adoption for new technologies from pilot phase to systemwide integration
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
216 active US Patents held by UTMB, 16 active companies between faculty, students, and alumni
$900K license revenue
52
disclosures of inventions
10
US patents issued
Commercialization
12
OP ERATIONA L EX CELLE N C E | S T R AT E GIC P L A N F Y 2 7
Operational Excellence
Metrics:
Strong, effective, and sustainable operations are essential to advancing the mission of UTMB. A high-performing, financially strong organization provides the systems, capabilities, and resources needed to advance our mission and sustain long-term excellence.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to improve efficiency, quality, and patient experience Labor costs
Ensure sustainability and support mission growth:
Days cash on hand Days in accounts receivable Cash collections and net to expected
• Strengthen financial planning, performance, and stewardship to sustain the mission and support strategic reinvestment and future growth. • Execute capital projects efficiently, optimize infrastructure use, and align facility investments with current and future organizational needs. • Expand philanthropy, endowments, alumni and donor engagement, community partnerships, and strategic communications to enhance UTMB’s visibility, reputation, and mission impact.
13
• Pursue legislative priorities and public-sector partnerships that secure resources for workforce development, Correctional Managed Care, and other strategic mission priorities. • Modernize IT infrastructure to support growth, strengthen cybersecurity, meet evolving regulatory, privacy, and datagovernance requirements, and enable innovation. • Optimize procurement, inventory management, and supply chain operations through process improvement and technology to increase efficiency, resilience, and value.
Gifts and commitments Operating income margin Philanthropic targets, including new endowments, alumni engagement, donor retention Engagement and conversion targets through marketing, communications, brand awareness and community engagement efforts Supply chain optimization
PUR POSE IN A CT ION: S H A P I N G TH E FU TURE OF HEALTH
FY26 Statistics*: *Preliminary, unaudited figures
$3.7 billion total budget, the highest in the history of UTMB
10.1 million gross square feet managed across four campuses and regional clinics
Steadfast
$4.9 billion annual economic impact
statewide (business volume, personal income, and durable goods purchases)
14
WH ERE P UR P OSE M EET S PA S S I O N . | S T R AT E GIC P L A N F Y2 7
Purpose in Action: Where Purpose Meets Passion.
People
Education
Attracting, retaining, and investing in top talent for a thriving workforce
Educating the next generation of health professionals and scientific leaders
Clinical Care Delivering exceptional, patient-centered care to improve health across our communities
15
Research
Innovation
Driving discoveries that improve health, prevent disease, and advance medicine
Advancing new ideas, technologies, and partnerships to transform healthcare
T HE UNIVE R SIT Y OF T E XA S ME DICA L B RANCH (UTMB)
Shaping the Future of Health Precision Medicine Personalizing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through genomics, data science, and individualized care strategies
Operational Excellence Ensuring sustainability through fiscal responsibility, resilient infrastructure, and efficient systems
Healthy Aging/ Healthy Living Promoting longevity and physical, mental, and neurological well-being through educational, clinical, and community-based initiatives
Artificial Intelligence Harnessing artificial intelligence and datadriven insights to enhance care, accelerate discovery, and improve operational performance
Cardiology, Kidney, & Metabolic Care Integrating leading-edge cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic care to improve outcomes for complex chronic diseases
Global Health Expanding partnerships, education, and research to address complex health challenges locally and around the world
16
WWW.UTMB.EDU