Our History
Before it was The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, HSC was the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
TCOM accepted its first class of 20 students in 1970 and celebrated its first graduation in 1974 with 18 graduates. The next year, TCOM officially merged with the North Texas State University — now the University of North Texas.
In 1993, the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences was established, which marked the beginning of TCOM’s expansion into a graduate university with multiple colleges and degree options. Shortly after, the name was changed to the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
Since the name change, HSC has added four colleges. The first undergraduate program was added in 2022 to CBTS, which then was renamed the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences.
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- 1999 – College of Public Health
- 2004 – College of Health Professions
- 2013 – UNT System College of Pharmacy
- 2023 – College of Nursing
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In 2004, the Center for Biohealth opened. CBH is now home to the Center for Human Identification and Institute for Translational Research.
In 2010, the Medical Education and Training Building opened its doors for the first time. The first class hosted was TCOM’s “Mechanisms of Disease.” This building houses classrooms and clinical training spaces, as well as an 11,500-square-foot auditorium.
In 2020, HSC celebrated its 50th anniversary. The university helped in COVID-19 efforts through contact tracing and setting up one of the city’s first vaccine clinics.
A year later, HSC’s Institute of Health Disparities, led by Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, received a $100 million grant for its AIM-AHEAD program.
In 2022, HSC celebrated the grand opening of the Regional Simulation Center — a first of its kind in Texas. TCOM’s Institute for Translational Research, led by Dr. Sid O’Bryant, also received a $150 million grant for Alzheimer’s disease research. This is the largest-ever grant in UNT System history.
Explore Our Timeline
1960s
1966: Three osteopathic physicians, D.D. Beyer, George Luibel and Carl Everett, procure a charter from the State of Texas for the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
1970s
1970: TCOM opens as a private college of osteopathic medicine with an entering class of 20 students.
1971: A renovated bowling alley on Camp Bowie Boulevard houses classrooms, basic science laboratories and administrative offices.
1974: The first class of 18 graduates receive their Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degrees.
1976: Ground is broken for the first permanent building on campus, what is now the Carl E. Everett Education and Administration Building.
1979: The Cowtown Marathon is established, co-sponsored by TCOM’s Institute for Human Fitness.
1980s
1982: Medical Education Building 2, now the Research Building, opens providing classrooms, basic science offices and laboratories.
1986: Medical Education Building 3, now the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library, opens, housing a state-of-the-art library, computing services and biomedical communications.
1990s
1990: The DNA Identity Laboratory is created with a special state appropriation to reduce a backlog of paternity cases pending in state courts.
1993: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves establishment of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
TCOM is officially redesignated and expanded by the State of Texas as the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
1997: The Physician Assistant Studies program admits its first students.
The Patient Care Center, now Health Pavilion, opens housing all campus clinics.
1999: The School of Public Health is founded.
UNTHSC joins UNT Denton and Dallas campuses to form the University of North Texas System.
2000s
2004: Center for BioHealth opens, dedicated primarily to biotechnology and public health.
2010s
2010: The Medical Education and Training Building opens its doors.
2013: UNT System College of Pharmacy welcomes its first class.
2018: Interdisciplinary Research and Education Building opens its doors.
2020s
2020: HSC celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The university helped in COVID-19 efforts through contact tracing and setting up one of the city’s first vaccine clinics.
2021: HSC’s Institute of Health Disparities, led by Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, received a $100 million grant for its AIM-AHEAD program.
2022: HSC celebrated the grand opening of the Regional Simulation Center — a first of its kind in Texas.
HSC named Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams president of the university — the first Black female president of a Texas health science center.
TCOM’s Institute for Translational Research, led by Dr. Sid O’Bryant, received a $150 million grant for Alzheimer’s research. This is the largest-ever grant in UNT System history.
2023: The UNT System Board of Regents approved the start of the College of Nursing.
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