Construction to begin on Seton's teaching hospital

Seton expects to open the facility in 2017 and plans to engage in community outreach to future patients and expand residents' access to primary and specialty care.

Dr. Clay Johnston, inaugural dean of Seton Medical Center at UT, said partnerships between the university, Central Health, Seton and others in Austin will allow for new innovation in medical care.

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said building the hospital helps achieve his goal of improving health care in the region, as does the recent opening of the new psychiatric emergency department at University Medical Center Brackenridge.

"We know that we are making extraordinary progress on the 10 Goals in 10 Years [initiative]," Watson said.

In July, Seton announced Christiann Vasquez as the president of the teaching hospital. Vasquez was previously the executive vice president and chief operating officer of University Health System in San Antonio and recently led efforts to plan and build a hospital in San Antonio.

"This project, for the community [and for Central Texas], is extremely important," Vasquez said. "In a true academic medical center we want to play a central role in educating medical providers of the future."

Seton announced Aug. 14 that Shivers Cancer Foundation donated $1,000,0001 to Seton Medical Center at UT, the largest donation the organization has ever made.

In January, Seton announced JE Dunn Construction Co. as the contractor for the $295 million teaching hospital.