UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of Dell Medical School, opened to the public in October. Two years ago, the first class of medical students arrived, and less than six years ago, Travis County voters approved a proposition to raise property taxes and provide funding for the medical school. That is a significant amount of growth in a short amount of time, and it will continue into the future. This summer, as Dell Medical School welcomes its third class of students, pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Charles Fraser will begin practicing in Austin and join the faculty. Fraser, one of the leading pediatric heart surgeons in the nation and a graduate of UT, said after 23 years at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston he “wanted the chance to be a part of something new.” “I feel like I owe it to the University of Texas; I’m in a position where my expertise and energies could really hopefully help this become a preeminent medical school,” Fraser said. According to Dr. Mini Kahlon, vice dean for strategy and partnerships, the school will focus on projects such as expanding the UT Health Austin clinics, creating new health products and working in the community to improve public health outside the doctor’s office. But Kahlon said as the school expands, it cannot grow only for the sake of growth. Dell Medical School receives $35 million per year from Travis County taxpayers through its partner, Central Health, and Kahlon said the school has to keep its responsibility to the public in mind. “We are at an interesting financial point where we have to be disciplined in our approach,” Kahlon said. “How do we discipline our growth? The community demands that of us.” The UT Health Austin clinics, which include a bipolar disorder center, musculoskeletal institute and same-day walk-in clinic, were created in consultation with Central Health and designed with community members in mind who have the least access to health care. “Next year, looking ahead, you’ll see several more coming online,” Kahlon said. The growth of Dell Medical School’s services will require a growth in physical space. In February, the school was authorized by the UT board of regents to enter into lease negotiations for a portion of the old UMC Brackenridge campus. UT has also issued a request for proposals for developers to build a new Erwin Center, allowing Dell Medical School to expand to the area where the current arena is located. School officials say there are no official plans for how the additional space would be used at this time.