The first bit of dirt has been turned, marking the official beginning of construction for a full-service, state-of-the-art hospital that will serve the rapidly growing South Side community in Bexar County. George Hernández, Jr., president & CEO for University Health, likened this moment to planting a seed that will flourish with the support of area leaders and residents. “My ask of you today,” Hernández said, “is that you commit to watering the seeds we plant. That you commit to further develop the foundations we lay.” He emphasized that this hospital will leave a lasting legacy, not only healing the sick and training the next generation of healthcare workers but also improving community health.
State-of-the-Art Services
Scheduled to open in 2027, the University Health Palo Alto Hospital, situated on a 68-acre campus next to Texas A&M – San Antonio, will be a five-story acute care hospital with a connected medical office building. Initially housing 166 inpatient beds, it can expand to 286 beds as the South Side population continues to grow.
The hospital will feature a 24/7 Emergency Department, labor and delivery unit, NICU, inpatient units, operating rooms, radiology, and lab services. This groundbreaking follows the construction commencement in December for Vida, a separate multi-specialty healthcare center and headquarters for the University Health Institute for Public Health, set to open in 2026. Additionally, University Health Retama, another community hospital, will break ground in February along the I-35 corridor in Selma.
Texas A&M Partnership for Cutting-Edge Research and Training
Visitors to the Palo Alto hospital and campus will benefit from a partnership with the Texas A&M System Board of Regents. The university system is investing $45 million in a College of Education and Public Health, accelerating healthcare professional training, expanding medical research, and providing essential care to southern Bexar County residents. John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Texas A&M – San Antonio was created to serve the people of Texas, and this hospital and our partnership with them will do just that”.
