$1.5 Million Gift from University Medical Center to Help Grow UTEP’s Nursing, Occupational Therapy Programs
EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 29, 2026) – The University of Texas at El Paso can significantly increase the size of its nursing and occupational therapy programs thanks to a new $1.5 million gift from University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso. The funds will support hiring new faculty in the Colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences to expand the class size of each program and meet increasing demand for more health care providers.
“This gift will promote the health and wellbeing of our community by creating more health care providers for our region,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We’re grateful to UMC El Paso for helping us create even more highly competitive graduates and future health care leaders.”
By 2030, West Texas is projected to have a deficit of over 5,000 registered nurses, the most severe shortage of nurses in the state, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The state will face a similar shortage of occupational therapists by 2030, research by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shows.
"For decades, UMC and UTEP have shared a longstanding partnership that has resulted in generations of healthcare professionals who provide our community with outstanding care and expertise,” said Jacob Cintron, President & CEO of the El Paso County Hospital District. “By creating a stronger pipeline of healthcare talent through UTEP, we are investing in the long-term health of our region. We want to ensure that students who begin their journey here can build meaningful careers here, as well."
With the gift, the College of Nursing aims to grow its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to over 400 graduates per year by 2028. The Doctoral of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is expected to double in size over three years — from 20 students per cohort to about 40-45 students per cohort.
“UMC El Paso has been a valued partner of UTEP for more than 35 years since it was R.E. Thomason General Hospital,” said Leslie Robbins, Ph.D., dean of the College of Nursing. “Their partnership has been instrumental in supporting the essential clinical education of our students who are not just in nursing, but health sciences and pharmacy. With this gift, UMC is going a step further on their commitment to our community.”
“This region needs more health care professionals and with the help of UMC El Paso, UTEP is up for the task,” said Scott Kruse, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences. “I am proud that we can join forces to promote the health and wellbeing of the Paso del Norte region.”
The gift from UMC El Paso will be matched with funding from a pre-existing grant from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, further amplifying the impact of the investment.
Last Updated on January 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 29, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
