Texas Medical Center NEWS


Vol. 22, No. 16		September 1, 2000

Dr. M. David Low

Dr. M. David Low announced that he was stepping down as president of UT-Houston Health Science Center after 11 years in that position. Following are some of UT-Houston's achievements during Dr. Low's presidency:

* Increased total operating budget from $253.5 million in FY 1990 to $445.2 million in FY 2000.

* Decreased dependence on state dollars from 38 percent of total budget in FY 1990 to 27 percent in FY 2000.

* Increased annual research expenditures from $45.6 million to $107 million. Current projections indicate research spending may reach as high as $115 million in FY 2000.

* Increased philanthropic support from $4.5 million in 1990 to $35 million in 1999: Overall philanthropic gifts during the past 10 years total nearly $200 million.

* Increased endowments from 61with a value of $9 million in FY 1990 to 209 totaling more than $62 million.

* Established The Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, focusing on the molecular basis of common human diseases.

* Reunited public health and medicine nationwide through The Medicine-Public Health Initiative.

* Founded The Texas Program in Society and Health, jointly with Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. The program focuses on the economic, social, and environmental factors that largely determine an individual's health.

* Introduced Houstonians to honorees of the highest scientific distinction - a Nobel Prize in 1998 and a Prince Mahidol Award in 2000.

* Forged a unique alliance between UT's School of Public Health and the Episcopal Health Charities to document and improve the total health of the people in this region of Texas. This program is already improving access to health care in some of Houston's neediest communities.

* Created a stimulating, friendly, and challenging learning environment for students marked by curricular transformation and innovations, utilization and dissemination of technology, and availability of a wide array of interdisciplinary activities and projects in the community.

* Developed a campus improvement plan with five new facilities to support future growth in community service and enhance the quality of learning and teaching for students and faculty.

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