Dell Med-Central Health Partnership Update Shows Expanding Access and Transformative Impact

AUSTIN, Texas — Thousands of Travis County residents who once faced long waits or limited access to specialty care are now being seen faster and closer to home, thanks to the transformational partnership between Central Health and Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

During a presentation to Central Health’s Board of Managers on July 23, Dell Med dean Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., shared how Dell Med is creating a healthier future for everyone in Travis County and beyond, with a special interest in caring for those who need us most.

“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner in a unique model that brings together our complementary strengths to optimize our shared goal of improving health for our patients,” said Dr. Lucchinetti.

A Model for Integrated, Patient-Centered Care

The presentation outlined how the partnership – established following voter approval of Proposition 1, in 2012 – is supporting Central Health’s mission to expand access and improve outcomes for Travis County residents, particularly those with low incomes.

Key highlights:

Dell Med’s clinical practice, UT Health Austin, now serves more than 29,000 unique patients annually across 99,000+ visits. Significantly, 43% of patients use Central Health’s MAP (Medical Access Program), Medicaid or Medicare for services in advanced imaging, musculoskeletal care, ophthalmology, long COVID, psychiatry, social work, urology and women’s health. This represents only a fraction of the total care provided each year by Dell Med physicians and learners, who see patients at over 90 sites across the community.

Since Dell Med’s establishment in 2014, the school has attracted 560 new physicians to Austin – representing roughly 1 in 8 doctors in Travis County – while simultaneously improving access and outcomes for all patients in the community, including its most vulnerable populations. An additional 200 physicians are projected to be recruited by 2030.

Nearly 500 Dell Med residents and fellows are now providing care across the community each year. Of the 651 physicians who completed Dell Med residency or fellowship programs and immediately entered practice, more than 42% remain in Central Texas.

Dell Med’s research growth has been substantial, with UT Austin now receiving $113.3 million in National Institutes of Health funding. The recently completed Dell Med-Central Health Research Compact ensures low-income patients have access to clinical trials and cutting-edge treatments, addressing a common gap where vulnerable populations are excluded from medical advances.

Driving Change, Close to Home

Also featured in the presentation was Aquiel Warner, a fourth-year Dell Med student and Pflugerville native whose training included rotations in local safety-net settings.

“I believe in a system that can meet people where they’re at,” Warner said.

Warner, originally interested in astrophysics, shifted her focus to medicine after working in refugee resettlement programs and seeing the barriers faced by underserved populations. Now after training in settings like CommUnityCare Health Centers, Warner plans to remain in Travis County to serve the community that shaped her.

“Aquiel represents exactly the kind of physician leader our community had in mind when it voted to create a medical school in Travis County,” said Dr. Pat Lee, Central Health president and CEO.

Built on Community Commitment

Funded through a 2012 voter-approved initiative, the partnership between Central Health and Dell Med continues to deliver on its promise: to build a new model of care that prioritizes patient needs, measurable impact and continuous improvement.

“The strategic alignment between Dell Med and Central Health is expanding access for underserved patients, offering first-time access and services in Austin, educating best-in-class physicians, supporting health and wellness across our community, and creating a system of integrated, patient-centered care in Travis County,” said Dr. Lucchinetti.

You can read Warner’s full story here: https://www.centralhealth.net/powered-by-partnership-medical-student-demonstrates-the-value-of-central-healths-relationship-with-dell-med/

Watch the presentation of the update here: https://www.youtube.com/live/qlimiI0llLs?si=5fyu18TsY0muirlv&t=5550

Download a copy of the presentation here: https://www.centralhealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2025.07.23-Dell-Med-School-Presentation-to-Central-Health.pdf

About the Partnership

The Dell Medical School and Central Health partnership was established following Travis County voters’ 2012 approval of Proposition 1, which committed funding for improved health care including support for a new medical school. The collaboration operates under a three-party Affiliation Agreement that includes Central Health, Dell Med and Ascension Seton.