Sealy & Smith Foundation Pledges $180 Million to UTMB Cardiovascular Hub

The funding package includes a transformative $130 million grant that builds upon a previous $50 million investment. In recognition of the gift, the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine will be renamed the Sealy Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Since 1922, the Foundation has contributed over $1.2 billion to the university, cementing a century-long partnership focused on regional healthcare advancement.

Infrastructure and Clinical Expansion

Most of the capital is earmarked for physical and technological upgrades across the Galveston campus. Plans include an $80 million inpatient cardiovascular hub on the sixth floor of Jennie Sealy Hospital, featuring expanded cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories. A further $43 million will establish a comprehensive outpatient center, consolidating cardiac and vascular surgery services into a single, coordinated location. The remainder of the funding supports the modernization of interventional radiology and the acquisition of advanced MRI, CT, and PET-CT imaging systems to bolster precision medicine. Dr. Hani Jneid, who leads the Institute, plans to leverage these resources to accelerate the Galveston Heart Study and expand fellowship programs, aiming to elevate the facility into an international referral center for complex cardiovascular disease.