Something truly extraordinary has taken shape in South Bexar County. Community leaders, health care professionals and philanthropic partners have come together to lay the foundation for something never done before, a model of care designed to change the future of health in San Antonio and Bexar County.

“My hope is that University Health Vida serves as the community catalyst that helps make San Antonio one of the healthiest, most prosperous regions in the nation,” said Dr. Leo Lopez, Medical Director of University Health Vida and Wheatley.

Over the last two years, University Health has embarked on a new journey to expand health care services into communities where access has historically been limited. In November 2025, University Health Vida opened its doors as a state-of-the-art health facility in South Bexar County, and with the support of philanthropy, the opportunities created here have the power to transform health outcomes and change the future for generations of families.

Rather than asking patients to travel across the city to receive care, University Health intentionally placed Vida in the heart of the South Side, and it was designed as a space where medical care, social services and community partnerships exist under one roof.

Research shows that medical care accounts for only 10 to 20 percent of a person’s overall health. The remaining 80 to 90 percent is influenced by what public health experts call the “non-medical drivers of health” — the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age.

Across San Antonio’s South and West sides, daily realities often make accessing care more difficult. Limited transportation options, financial barriers and longstanding community patterns mean many families rely primarily on resources located within a five-to-seven-mile radius of their homes. A simple drive through these neighborhoods tells the story: fewer grocery stores, limited pharmacies, scarce preventive health resources and long distances to the nearest hospital.

Vida was designed specifically to help change these circumstances.

“Our doors are open to those looking for a medical home. Vida is a place where patients can connect with a team of physicians, nurses, behavioral health experts and pharmacists who work with urgency and intention to care for their health needs and earn their trust,” Dr. Lopez said. “Whether they are managing long-term conditions like high blood pressure, depression or diabetes, or just beginning their health journey, we are here as partners to help them achieve their health goals.”

The facility’s first, second and third floors serve as the foundation for addressing the challenges patients face outside the clinical setting. These spaces will bring together a variety of community organizations, supportive programs and patient resources aimed at improving health beyond traditional medical care.

The first floor focuses on supporting patients’ everyday health needs. Aside from receiving treatment for any health-related concern or illness, individuals experiencing barriers to care like food insecurity can participate in nutrition education and cooking demonstrations through a donor-funded H-E-B Teaching Kitchen. Patients facing challenges such as transportation can connect with resources through the “Toyota Drives Mobility for All” room, where they can learn how to navigate VIA transit routes and access transportation assistance.

On the second floor, community partners and local organizations whose missions align with University Health’s strategic priorities have access to collaborative spaces designed to provide opportunities for partnerships and to develop solutions to shared community challenges.

“Improving the health of our community happens through partnerships and collaboration,” Dr. Lopez said. “It will require all of us working together to help our patients live longer, healthier lives.”

Over the years, Bexar County has faced a significant shortage of mental health resources. Although the number of providers has increased in recent years, many are concentrated on the north side of the county, leaving communities in the southern half with fewer options for care. To help close this gap, the third floor of Vida will provide behavioral health services for children, adolescents and adults.

More than a new facility, Vida represents a shift in how health care can and should work, and with the generosity of donors, the collaborations and partnerships ahead can be accelerated at a pace far beyond what traditional funding typically allows. Philanthropic funding will ensure the needs of patients can be met not only today, but well into the future.

“Your contribution to University Health Foundation can help patients live longer, healthier lives,” Dr. Lopez says. “We aren’t just writing prescriptions and ordering lab tests, we are helping fathers walk their daughters down the aisle, ensuring children can return to their classrooms and achieve their full potential and supporting grandparents as they watch their families reach important milestones. We are strengthening the social fabric of our neighborhoods.”

At University Health Foundation, we are grateful to those who believe in our mission and share our vision for a healthier future in San Antonio. Vida stands as a shining example of what is possible when bold steps are taken and hope inspires us all to pursue what no one before was brave enough to attempt. We are proud that this dream has finally become a reality for so many who needed it most.