UT Health East Texas has significantly expanded its clinical services within the new UT Tyler School of Medicine Building in Tyler. The facility now centralizes advanced outpatient, specialty, and imaging services under one roof, enhancing patient care, convenience, and access for residents across East Texas. This expansion was announced on August 26, 2026.
The first floor of the state-of-the-art building is home to the Advanced Imaging Center. This center provides comprehensive breast imaging services, including 3D mammography, ultrasound, and breast MRI. It features dedicated waiting areas designed to accommodate all patients, including men, who can also receive breast cancer diagnoses there. The first floor also houses advanced MRI technology, which, combined with a new CT scanner located on the second floor, offers some of the most advanced diagnostic capabilities available in the region.
According to Russ Cannon, UT Health Tyler Director of Imaging, this new equipment dramatically improves image quality while reducing the necessity for invasive procedures. Cannon stated that these technologies enable diagnoses "with greater accuracy and confidence than ever before." He noted that in many instances, necessary information can be obtained without additional invasive testing, allowing patients to receive answers more quickly, with less risk, and greater peace of mind. The facility's advanced cardiac imaging capabilities are also expected to play an important role in improving diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with heart disease.
Clinical services continue on the upper floors. The second floor offers women’s health services, providing comprehensive care through all stages of life, including preventive, gynecologic, and maternity care. The third floor is dedicated to orthopedics, effectively doubling previous clinic capacity and integrating imaging and diagnostic testing within the same location for a more streamlined patient experience. The fourth floor houses pulmonary services through a centralized Pulmonary Institute, which consolidates specialty providers, advanced diagnostic testing, and coordinated care in one location. Each of these clinical floors is also equipped with in-clinic, low-dose X-ray technology, enabling patients to receive diagnostic imaging during their appointment without having to travel to a separate location.
Cannon highlighted the advancements in imaging technology, particularly the significant reductions in radiation exposure. He explained that by integrating imaging services directly within the clinics, the facility improves both safety and convenience, creating a more efficient experience for patients.
Later this year, the expansion will continue with the opening of the fifth floor, which will serve as a hub for advanced surgical care. This floor will feature eight state-of-the-art operating rooms, leading-edge robotic surgical technology, and an integrated Sterile Processing Department designed to support the broader UT Health Tyler campus.
This new facility represents a collaborative investment by UT Health East Texas and The University of Texas at Tyler. The partnership aims to bring medical education, research, and patient care together to expand access to advanced services and strengthen the physician workforce serving East Texas. Donald Baker, regional president of UT Health East Texas, described the facility as "a transformational investment in the future of healthcare for East Texas."
Baker emphasized that by integrating education and clinical care, an environment is created where innovation can flourish, future physicians are trained, and patients receive high-level care close to home. He added that the collaboration between UT Health East Texas and the UT Tyler School of Medicine reflects a shared commitment to improving the region's health. Together, the institutions are expanding access to specialized services while building the healthcare workforce necessary to serve East Texas for generations to come.
