The University of Houston has announced a $50 million gift from Tilman J. Fertitta, longtime chair of the UH System Board of Regents in support of its College of Medicine.

The gift will help address the state’s critical shortage of primary care physicians, especially in low-income and underserved communities. In addition, it will be used to recruit renowned scholars focused on healthcare innovation and establish support for the college and its faculty to pursue clinical and translational research, with an emphasis on population health, behavioral health, community engagement and the social determinants of health. In recognition of the gift, the school will be named the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.

The gift includes $10 million to endow five chairs to hire faculty who are considered leaders in their fields with a focus on healthcare innovation; $10 million to establish an endowed scholarship fund; $10 million to cover start-up costs for the Fertitta Family College of Medicine and enhance research activities; and $20 million to create the Fertitta Dean’s Endowed Fund in support of research-enhancing activities.

“Our family has such a passion for this medical school and its pursuit of health equity so everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, ZIP code, or socioeconomic status, has the same opportunity to be as healthy as possible,” said Fertitta. “My hope is that the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine will be a game changer for the health and well-being of Texans by improving access to quality health care, advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care through health and health care research.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Mohammad Sarfraz)