IBC Foundation awards $1M to School of Public Health for endowed faculty positions

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, along with The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio, has been granted a total of $2 million in endowments by the International Bancshares Corporation (IBC) Foundation. This generous donation enables the establishment of four endowed professorships at the university, each valued at $500,000. Notably, The School of Public Health is a beneficiary of two endowments, resulting in a significant contribution of $1 million to the School. 

The endowments are listed as follows:

• The IBC Foundation Endowed Professorship in Health, Behavior and Society at the University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio.
• The IBC Foundation Endowed Professorship in Health Policy and Health Services Administration at the University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio.
• The IBC Foundation Endowed Professorship in Health Promotion Research at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
• The IBC Foundation Endowed Professorship in Nursing Administration and Informatics at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing.

Commitment to the San Antonio Community

As one of the largest Hispanic-American-owned community banks in the United States, IBC chose UT Health San Antonio for its dedication to serving a diverse student population. Approximately 44% of UT Health San Antonio’s student population are minorities underrepresented in medicine, making it one of the nation's top medical schools for graduating Hispanic healthcare providers. 

"These endowments not only promote economic growth but also tackle health disparities across Texas, which significantly impact the economy and the well-being of minority communities,” said Dennis E. Nixon, chairman and CEO of IBC Bank. 

"We are grateful to IBC Foundation for its generous efforts to support diversity and academic excellence," said William Henrich, MD, MACP, president of UT Health San Antonio.  

UT Health San Antonio and the School of Public Health will use the endowments to recruit and retain the highest-quality educators, researchers, and scholars. These professorships will foster interdisciplinary research addressing real-world challenges such as healthcare disparities, environmental sustainability, technology social justice.