UTMB Is a Major Employer and Medical Center in Galveston County

UTMB opened in 1891 as the University of Texas Medical Department. It began with one building, 23 students, and 13 teachers. Its first class studied beside Galveston's port, when the city was still one of Texas's busiest gateways.

The Galveston campus now brings schools, labs, clinics, and hospitals together near John Sealy Hospital. Its schools train doctors, nurses, other health workers, and medical researchers.

That mix makes UTMB more than a hospital sign on the east end. It is part of the island's work, traffic, and identity. The wider health system also serves League City and Angleton. Check UTMB's location pages when choosing care; the history explains why so much of it begins in Galveston.