University of Texas regents today voted in favor of a plan to bring a medical school to Austin.

According to a letter from state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, to the organizing committee of his “10 in 10” plan to create a healthier Central Texas, regents voted to commit $30 million annually through the med school’s start-up years, with an additional $25 million per year beyond.

Added to the pending $250 million commitment of funding from the Seton Healthcare Family for a new teaching hospital, the way is now clear to discuss a site for the school and “other important issues that must be resolved,” according to a UT press release. “UT has a great impact on Texas and the world. With a medical school, it would be even greater,” UT President Bill Powers said in the release. “The founding of a medical school would be an enormous event in the life of the university, would offer dramatic new opportunities for our students and our faculty, and would advance health care in Central Texas.”

This article appears in April 27 • 2012.

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