Texas Christian University鈥檚 Burnett School of Medicine could give Fort Worth a healthy shot of economic growth.
TCU administrators expect the newly accredited school to create an estimated 31,200 jobs and have an annual by 2030, as well as generate more physicians to meet the growing needs of Fort Worth.
Dr. Stuart Pickell, Tarrant County Medical Society president, expects the school to have a domino effect on Fort Worth. Burnett School of Medicine students will be trained here, go off to either find a residency somewhere in the nation or stay and establish roots in Fort Worth. Regardless, a new reputation emerges around Fort Worth, he said.
鈥淗ealth care is an important service, but it鈥檚 also big business,鈥� Pickell said.
Mike Brennan, president of Near Southside Inc., described the Burnett School of Medicine as one of the most significant milestones in the history of , a 1,200-acre area south of downtown that the city of Fort Worth established this year but has a long history before the formal recognition.
鈥淚 think that it鈥檚 going to be a huge driver,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淭he medical school is a major ingredient in the mix of assets that the near Southside brings to Fort Worth.鈥�
The school鈥檚 location and potential partnerships with nearby hospitals could bring many other benefits, such as expanding the campus for new programs and creating administration jobs, Brennan said.
鈥淗aving any higher education institution is going to be an economic driver,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淎ll the money that gets spent locally as a result of those folks.鈥�
Big money coming, study says
Before the Burnett School of Medicine saw its first class in 2019, the specialized campus was intended to be a joint initiative between TCU and the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
The public-private partnership tapped Tripp Umbach, a Kansas City, Missouri-based consulting firm, to examine the potential economic impact of a new medical school.
The collaboration was estimated to annually bring in $850 million to the health care and higher education sectors of Fort Worth, and generate an annual $79 million in tax revenue for the state by 2030.
Fort Worth could indirectly see growth in hotels and related industries because of the two schools, according to the study.
The study, however, occurred before TCU and UNT HSC split in 2022. Neither school could , the Fort Worth Report previously reported.
Regardless, Dr. Stuart Flynn, the founding dean of the Burnett School, is confident TCU鈥檚 new Southside campus, 1200 W Rosedale St., will positively impact Fort Worth.
鈥榃e need more physicians鈥�
Tarrant County Medical Society鈥檚 Pickell hopes the school can address a problem looming over Fort Worth, a city approaching nearly 1 million residents.
鈥淲ith Fort Worth being one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we need more physicians,鈥� Pickell said.
Fort Worth is a microcosm of what is happening throughout North Texas.
A Texas Department of State Health Services projected North Texas will have 2,986 physicians by 2032. However, to meet the region鈥檚 demand for health care professionals, North Texas would need 4,760 physicians.
鈥淲e are in a significant physician shortage, and it鈥檚 getting worse,鈥� Flynn said.
Fylnn sees the medical school addressing the physician shortage head-on. TCU鈥檚 study estimated 67% of students who complete their undergraduate and graduate medical training in an area remain there to practice.
鈥淲e view that as one of our missions to be a significant player in trying to solve something that鈥檚 very hard to solve. If everyone just ignores it, it鈥檚 certainly not going to get solved,鈥� Flynn said.
Juan Salinas II is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at juan.salinas@fortworthreport.org or on . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy . Read more about our editorial independence policy .