| HOUSTON – The City of Houston is partnering with UTHealth Houston to establish a new academic Health Department that will strengthen the region’s public health workforce, expand hands-on training opportunities, and deepen collaboration between academic experts and city health leaders. Houston Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Tran Carappuci, UTHealth Houston President and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair Dr. Melina Kibbe and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Dean Dr. Eric Boerwinkle publicly announced the partnership this morning at Houston City Hall, at the invitation of Mayor John Whitmire.
“The City of Houston is proud to collaborate on this significant announcement. Our health department has long believed that meaningful partnerships drive measurable impact. Working alongside the School of Public Health and the City of Houston allows us to prepare the next generation of leaders while delivering real-time solutions to the complex health challenges facing our communities,” said Mayor Whitmire.
The health department will work alongside UTHealth Houston to support evidence-based programs, applied research, and real-world public health practices. This model will create a bridge between practical academic knowledge and real-world leadership opportunities in public health. The partnership intends to inform future potential partnerships, community-driven decision making and new avenues for funding and community impact overall.
“This collaboration represents more than an agreement between institutions; it is the beginning of a new era in public health. Together we will strengthen the public health workforce and expand access to evidence-based care across our region. By aligning our clinical expertise with academic innovation, we are building a stronger, more resilient Houston,” said Tran.
HHD will work with all the schools within UTHealth Houston, including Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Informatics and more. HHD intends to implement academic health departments across other universities in Texas, supporting the City’s strategic goals to strengthen the public health workforce, expand research capacity, and promote evidence-based community health initiatives.
“Partnerships like this help us turn discovery into real impact for the people of Houston. When we bring our researchers, students, trainees, and faculty together with city leaders who share our commitment to health care innovation and access, we open the door to new ideas, stronger training opportunities, and solutions that reach communities faster. That’s the kind of collaboration that truly drives change,” said Kibbe.
The collaboration will also create new opportunities for student field placements, joint training initiatives, and shared research projects focused on improving health outcomes across Houston. It will also support the city’s long-term goals of enhancing preparedness, reducing health disparities, and advancing innovative public health solutions. |
