Texas Medical Center Area

Founded in 1945, the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical hub, encompasses 1,000+ acres approximately the size of Chicago inside Houston’s Loop-610. There are 49 member bodies which comprise the TMC: 13 renowned hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and virtually all health-related careers.

The TMC is the site of where the first, and still the largest, air ambulance service was created; a very successful inter-institutional transplant program was developed; and more heart surgeries are performed than anywhere else in the world. The TMC employs more than 93,000 people aided by 12,000-plus volunteers; hosts six million patient visits per year; has more than 6,500 beds and delivers more than 19,000 babies per year; and has a regional annual economic impact of $14 billion.

By virtue of sheer size and tremendous community presence, the TMC is a geographical reference point within the city and a number of neighborhoods are often identified as a part of the “Medical Center area.” Those most closely identified with the TMC include the Lower Montrose neighborhoods, Southmore, Southgate, Southampton, Boulevard Oaks, Broadacres, the Museum District, West University Place, Sunset Terrace and Collegeview, Old Braeswood, the Braeswood Place neighborhoods, Linkwood, Knollwood, Meyerland, Willowbend, and Willow Meadows. A group of master planned communities immediately southwest of Houston in the Pearland area and south into Brazoria County along State Highway 288 are also associated with the TMC and include Silver Lakes, Lakes of Savannah, Shadow Creek Ranch, Sterling Lakes, Rodeo Palms and many others.

The TMC, together with the giant Port of Houston and the numerous multi-national energy companies who make their headquarters in Houston, drives the Houston economy, one of the strongest in the nation. It is also a significant factor in moderating the effects of national economic downturns on the local area.