TYLER, TX (KLTV) -
The board decided Thursday to approve The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler to do business as UTHealth-Northeast.
Passing this item means most of the visual presence for the health center will change to UT Health-Northeast but the full name of the center itself will remain The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.
Presidents and senior leadership from all 15 UT institutions attended the Tyler meetings.
"Over today and tomorrow we'll be discussing important matters as it addresses our academic and health institutions, whether it be the creation of a new degree program or the discussion of some very important projects moving ahead," says Dr. Francisco Gonzalez Cigarroa, the UT System chancellor.
Part of the board's discussion included approving a new name for the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, something the center's president says will simplify things.
"When you have 17 syllables in your name it can be a little difficult for people to describe you," says Dr. Kirk Calhoun, the UT Health Science Center at Tyler President.
"Our name will always be the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, but for simplicity purposes we think ‘UT Health-Northeast' will be a lot easier," says Dr. Calhoun.
Other items affecting the Tyler campus include a new contract to care for Rusk State Hospital patients and a request to lease a building to expand Tyler care facilities.
"The Health Science Center at Tyler has a tremendous impact here, but it also has a significant regional and statewide impact," says Dr. Cigarroa.
"Our campus will be expanding behavioral health services here. We know we need to do a better job of training future physicians in behavioral health and this will be an opportunity for us to improve that training," Dr. Calhoun says.
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