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One College to Six
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth began when the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine accepted its first students in 1970. Founders were D.D. Beyer, DO; George Luibel, DO; and Carl Everett, DO. The first class of doctors of osteopathic medicine graduated in 1974.
In May 1975, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 216, which made TCOM a state-assisted medical school under the jurisdiction of the North Texas State University Board of Regents.
TCOM transformed into a health science center with the addition of the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences in 1993, a Physician Assistant Studies Program in 1997 and the College of Public Health in 1999.
Growth continued with additions of the fourth, fifth and sixth colleges – the College of Health Professions in 2004, the UNT System College of Pharmacy in 2013 and the College of Nursing in 2023.
Physical Growth
Initially, TCOM held classes in a converted bowling alley and a garage apartment. Those makeshift classrooms evolved into a modern campus in the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District.
In 2005, UNTHSC purchased the adjacent former Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas property, increasing the campus from 16 to 33 acres.
In 2018, UNTHSC built its newest campus facility, the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Building. The five-story, 173,000-square-foot building houses the College of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions and the North Texas Eye Research Institute. It was the first new research building at the Health Science Center in 14 years.
In 2022, UNTHSC opened a Regional Simulation Center, the first immersive virtual reality simulation center in Texas. The $6.75 million facility is in renovated space on the first floor of UNTHSC’s Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library.
Research
In 2018, UNTHSC founded the Institute for Translational Research to give patients access to therapeutics and diagnostics faster than ever before. Led by Executive Director Sid O’Bryant, PhD, the institute works to translate basic science into treatments and new procedures for Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
In 2020, the institute received a five-year grant of up to $45 million from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to examine the biological differences that cause Alzheimer’s disease to disproportionately afflict Mexican Americans. Additionally, UNTHSC invested $7 million to include African Americans in the project.
In 2022, the institute was the recipient of another NIH five-year grant, this one for up to $148.8 million. The grant is funding one of the largest studies ever of Alzheimer’s disease and is the biggest grant the UNT System has received. The research is seeking to understand the differences in Alzheimer’s disease among African American, Mexican American and non-Hispanic white populations.
Another major NIH grant was awarded in 2021 to UNTHSC when it was the recipient of $50 million to lead the coordinating center for the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity, or AIM-AHEAD, program. The multi-institutional coordinating center brings together experts to work on closing gaps in the artificial intelligence and machine learning fields that can lead to health disparities.
Community
UNTHSC proudly serves the community through a variety of community and school outreach programs. UNTHSC is a founding partner of the annual Cowtown Marathon and co-founded Fort Worth’s annual Hispanic Wellness Fair.
UNTHSC launched Fort Worth’s first Pediatric Mobile Clinic in 2013 to deliver health care to children living in underserved parts of the city.
In 2020, UNTHSC helped lead the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Texas, opening two drive-through testing centers, assisting in contact tracing, educating the public with fact-based health and safety information, and working to protect underserved and at-risk communities.
Leadership
Eight presidents have led UNTHSC:
- Marion E. Coy, DO, 1972-1981
- Ralph L. Willard, DO, 1981-1985
- David M. Richards, DO, 1986-1999
- Ronald R. Blanck, DO, 2001- 2006
- Scott B. Ransom, DO, MBA, MPH, 2006-2012
- Michael R. Williams, DO, MD, MBA, 2012-2022
- Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN, 2022-2025
- Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP, 2025-current (Interim)
UNTHSC Today
Purpose: Transform lives in order to improve the lives of others.
Vision: One University built on values, defining and producing the providers of the future.
Mission: Create solutions for a healthier community
Our Values
- Courageous Integrity
- Be Curious
- We Care
- Better Together
- Show Your Fire
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