Understanding a critical need for improved health care in the Paso del Norte region, these leaders envisioned a health care “center of excellence” in the heart of the city—a home to a medical university, teaching hospitals, community clinics, and biotech research parks. This “life sciences hub” would create high-skill, high-wage jobs, produce highly trained health professionals, and attract investment in biotech to kick-start a major transformation of the region’s economy, while improving health care for the region’s residents.
Today, this vision has become reality—the MCA now leads the development of a 440-acre medical and biotech campus in South Central El Paso, home to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso Children’s Hospital, the Cardwell Collaborative research building, and a number of state, county and city organizations focused on health services.
Although we’re known for our growing El Paso campus, the MCA connects with universities, businesses and entrepreneurs across the Paso del Norte region and beyond with a shared vision of health care innovation and economic prosperity. Read on to learn more about the history of the MCA.
Initial planning begins for a dedicated medical and life sciences campus in El Paso
Emma Schwartz becomes first Executive Director
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Paul L. Foster School of Medicine opens—the first four-year medical school on the U.S.-Mexico border
Public meetings are held to gather input and finalize the MCA campus master plan
The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine welcomes its inaugural class of 40 students
Thomason Hospital is renamed University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC)
The MCA advances the next phase of campus planning and infrastructure alignment
The MCA campus master plan expands from 140 to 440 acres
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ #6) is created to finance infrastructure and growth on the campus
El Paso Children’s Hospital opens within the MCA campus footprint
The MCA launches the for-profit BioMedical Institute of the Americas (dba RedSky) to support biomedical startups
TUHSC El Paso becomes an independent university and the Paul L Foster School of Medicine graduates its first class
Construction begins on the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing at TTUHSC El Paso
Design and development advance for the Cardwell Collaborative, funded by an EDA grant for $1 million
The Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing (TTUHSC El Paso) opens
The MCA launches the Space Race, a startup challenge in partnership with NASA
The Space Race challenge commences with 40 teams – 18 of them local
In partnership with Workforce Solutions Borderplex a regional skills gap and talent needs study is conducted on advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and medical device industries
A new MCA campus master plan advances long-term development strategy
The MCA launches the Clinical Trials Consortium, establishing regional clinical research infrastructure
The MCA launches STEM Innovation Lab programs to expose students to life sciences and career pathways in STEM
UT Houston School of Public Health locates its El Paso campus in the Cardwell Collaborative
The STEM Innovation Lab develops virtual camps that serve over 1,800 students during COVID
The VA Wellness Center opens and begins serving veterans in the region
Bristol Meyers Squibb funds the newly formed MCA Clinical Trial Academy to train clinical research coordinators and PI’s for our regional clinical trial ecosystem
The Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (TTUHSC El Paso) opens on the MCA campus
MCA commissions an economic impact study that reports cumulative annual economic impact of $150.17 million to the El Paso economy from 2012 through 2021
EPA awards $500k for environmental cleanup
Carlos Ortega becomes President and CEO of the MCA Foundation
The MCA Innovation Center is dedicated to the Melinda and Meyer Marcus Foundation Innovation Center following a major philanthropic investment
The MCA Clinical Trials Program launches Community Health Worker trainings
Development of the $340M Fox Cancer Center is announced, bringing a major oncology and research investment to the MCA campus
Land predevelopment continues, positioning MCA for future construction projects
Regional clinical trials surpass $130M in annual economic impact
The Fox Cancer Center breaks ground, advancing a major regional healthcare expansion
Marking two decades of advancing healthcare, research, and innovation in the Paso del Norte region
©
2026 Medical Center of the Americas Foundation – Cardwell
Collaborative
