The transformation of providing accessible and high-quality healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley continues! Today, I had the honor of joining UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey, School of Medicine Dean Everardo Cobos, and many other public officials and community leaders at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center.
The journey for this center started years ago. The concept was first proposed by DHR leadership to create a partnership with M.D. Anderson. In 2019, I traveled to Houston to meet with M.D. Anderson President Dr. Peter Pisters to discuss the request. Since then, we have worked to secure the partnerships and investments necessary so that our cancer patients in South Texas will have access to top-notch facilities and world-class doctors right here at home.
In August 2021, I joined UTRGV President Guy Bailey in announcing the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center, which would include oncology advisory services provided by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In August of that year, the UT System Board of Regents authorized the expenditure of $145,723,401, which included $49,493,963 from Permanent University Fund (PUF) Bond Proceeds, $44,922,833 from Tuition Revenue Bond (TRB) Proceeds, supported by the Rio Grande Valley Legislative Delegation and approved by the Texas Legislature in 2021, $40,000,000 from Revenue Financing System (RFS) Bond Proceeds, $10,306,605 from Designated Funds, and $1,000,000 from Gifts.
In October 2022, we broke ground to begin the construction of this beautiful 141,000 square-foot facility, which will allow for comprehensive cancer and surgical services at the leading edge of medicine, serving as an incubator to train the physicians and scientific leaders of the future. This three-story center includes a radiation oncology clinic, medical oncology clinic, diagnostic imaging suite, rehabilitation therapy, an ambulatory surgery center, a pharmacy center, and more. In the past legislative session, working with my colleagues, we secured $5 million for the biennium to support clinical operations and $1.9 million for research at the institution's Cancer and Surgery Center.
I am pleased that as the lead author of Senate Bill 24 in 2013, which created the UTRGV School of Medicine and allowed the University to access PUF, this legislation continues transforming the Valley by increasing access to high-quality care and facilities to benefit all of South Texas. This couldn’t have been done without the support of our legislators, the UT System, our local public officials, community leaders, hospital partners, and our UTRGV leaders.
Editor's Note: The above commentary was provided by state Sen. Juan Hinojosa following a ribbon-cutting ceremony for UT Health's RGV Cancer and Surgery Center. The commentary first appeared on Sen. Hinojosa's social media pages and appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author.
