Susan Hall Health Center reopens as University Health-Southside ISD partnership
University Health and Southside ISD on Thursday celebrated the reopening of the Susan Hall Health Center, a partnership that allows Southside ISD students and employees, as well as family and community members, fast access to a comprehensive primary care clinic for children and adults.
This clinic further expands health care access to the historically underserved South Side population, following closely upon the opening of clinical services at University Health Vida, the new multi-specialty health center across from Texas A&M University—San Antonio.
“University Health is proud to partner with Southside ISD to expand health care access,” said University Health President and CEO Ed Banos. “We provide the highest quality doctors and clinical staff, bringing high quality and compassionate care, and the reopening of the Susan Hall Health Center is a step forward in making primary care more available and responsive to the needs of the community.”
The Susan Hall Health Center will offer care for:
- Minor acute care (ear infections, throat infections, asthma, bronchitis)
- Physical exams/well-child checkups
- Primary care
- Immunizations
- Sports physicals
- Health education on nutrition, disease and injury prevention
- Medication prescriptions as needed
Having a primary care clinic on campus will support students and staff alike, and when their families can also access that care, it lifts everyone up, said Southside ISD Superintendent Rolando Ramirez.
“This partnership ensures that families in Southside have convenient access to primary care right in their neighborhood,” Ramirez said. “We are excited to provide a resource that supports the health and well-being of our students and community members alike.”
Easily accessible care means more people will follow up on medical concerns, keeping small problems from becoming large ones, said Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, medical director for school-based health centers at University Health.
“To be able to care for people in a way that makes it easier for them to see us and to follow up and to maximize their health is such an exciting opportunity,” Dr. Rodriguez said.
It’s also personally meaningful, she said.
“The Susan Hall Health Center in particular is dear to my heart because I’ve lived in this community and I have been serving this community for several years now,” she said. “It’s such a great partnership for Southside ISD and University Health.”
Banos noted the growth of both housing and employment opportunities on the South Side, along with the construction of Vida and University Health Palo Alto Hospital, opening in 2027, and said, “It’s our pleasure to work in this growing area.”
The school-based health centers not only improve health outcomes for students, they have also been shown to boost academic achievement, reduce absenteeism and promote graduation rates nationally. A University Health team led by Dr. Leo Lopez and Director of Health Care Services Valerie Maldonado has been nationally recognized for their groundbreaking work and has presented strategies, lessons and accomplishments to other school-based clinic groups at a national forum in Washington D.C.
