Houston and Galveston medical students eyeing opportunities in health care leadership and innovation can now pursue a new dual MD/MBA degree through the highly ranked McCombs School of Business Hildebrand MBA at The University of Texas at Austin.

Beginning in Fall 2026, medical students at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and the John Sealy School of Medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston can take a year to complete an MBA degree at Texas McCombs' Houston campus, currently housed in the Texas Medical Center and moving to state-of-the-art facilities near the Energy Corridor. This efficient structure allows students to earn both degrees in about five years instead of six if pursued separately.

"This new program represents a landmark collaboration within The University of Texas System, leveraging the collective expertise of Texas McCombs, the McGovern Medical School, and the John Sealy School of Medicine to create a pipeline of forward-thinking leaders for the rapidly evolving health care sector," said Urooj Khan, Texas McCombs' associate dean for graduate programs. "The weekend-based MBA format allows students to build critical business and leadership skills while remaining fully engaged in their medical training."

Built on McCombs' established track record with Dell Medical School's MD/MBA offering, the program dovetails with the demands of a medical curriculum. As a dual-degree program, the Texas McCombs MD/MBA at Houston offers reduced credit requirements through crossover courses. Classes meet every other weekend, Friday evenings and Saturdays, during fall and spring semesters, plus summer sessions.

"This program creates an exciting new pathway for our students to develop the leadership and business acumen that are increasingly essential in modern health care," said Dr. LaTanya J. Love, dean of McGovern Medical School and H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences. "By pairing the distinguished medical education and clinical excellence of McGovern Medical School with a world-class Texas McCombs MBA, we are preparing the next generation of physicians not only to deliver exceptional patient care but also to lead within complex health systems. Together, we are equipping them with the strategic insight and practical skills necessary to drive meaningful innovation, improve care at scale, and bring lasting transformation to health care."

"This new MD/MBA program reflects our commitment to preparing physicians who can lead at the intersection of medicine, management, and innovation," said Dr. Antonio Bianco, senior vice president of Health Affairs, dean of the John Sealy School of Medicine, and chief research officer at UTMB. "By combining clinical excellence with rigorous business training, our students will be uniquely positioned to shape the future of health care."

That future probably means more consolidation, as private equity companies increasingly own medical practices, and more physicians are employees, not independent practice owners. In 2020, employed physicians became the majority for the first time, according to the American Medical Association. Because of this shift, today's physicians need a firm grasp of health care finance so they can skillfully negotiate their contracts, contribute to discussions about how practices are run, and make sense of financial results, which are often tied to bonuses and other pay.

Joe Stephens, Texas McCombs' senior assistant dean and director for Working Professional and Executive MBA Programs, said Dell Med's MD/MBA graduates report that residency interviewers often key on the MBA. "Many physicians have little formal training in finance, accounting, or organizational leadership," Stephens said. "The MBA fills these gaps, enabling them to make informed business decisions - whether as employees, managers, or entrepreneurs."

Stephens said career paths for medical graduates have never been more plentiful, noting that the MD/MBA maintains the option of clinical practice while opening doors to alternative career paths in pharmaceutical companies, health tech startups, and venture capital firms focused on health care innovation.

The new degree offering comes on the heels of a January announcement that Texas McCombs is committing $13 million during the next decade to better serve its Houston constituents. MD/MBA will join the school's Working Professional MBA Program, and students will take classes at a new campus in Houston's CityCentre business district.

Applications are being accepted for the inaugural class of Texas McCombs' MD/MBA. For more information, visit the program website.