“Health is about more than just the absence of disease. It's about economics, education, the environment, empowerment, and community.” These are the words of former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.
Her words are as true today as they were when she held the position in the early 1990s. As times and technology change, the intersection of health, education, and community remains the same. One such partnership is that between Parkland Health and the University of Dallas.
The partnership, supported by the University of Dallas Board of Trustees, Dallas city officials and Parkland leadership, will bring a primary care medical center to the Richland campus. University of Dallas' Richland Health Center, scheduled to open in early 2026, will be his long-awaited 30,000-square-foot addition to Parkland's ambulatory care portfolio in northeast Dallas County.
I am especially pleased that this partnership has come to fruition as it is close to my heart. As one of the original board members (vice president) of the Dallas County Community College District, my mother, Margaret McDermott, helped the board find a location at each of the Dallas Community Colleges around our beloved city. They demanded good architecture from their buildings. So, Parkland Health was able to bring her medical expertise to the Richland campus of her choice, further strengthening her ties to medicine, education, and community.
The latest Community Health Needs Assessments by the Parkland and Dallas County Health Departments show that increasing chronic health conditions and the need for preventive care rank among the top areas of risk to communities, with varying percentages of has been shown to continue to impact communities of color. We also found that certain areas with high concentrations of economic investment and poor infrastructure are correlated with poorer health outcomes.
With the opening of Richland Health Center, Parkland will address health disparities head-on by providing primary and specialty services in areas of greatest need. The clinic is expected to serve 18,000 patients when fully staffed, including adult, women's, infant, and pediatric clinics, optometry, pharmacy, laboratory, patient financial counseling, and radiology. It is planned to provide services such as education, family planning, etc. In addition, Parkland will provide behavioral health services to patients treated at the health center.
In addition to serving the needs of college-bound students and increasing educational opportunities, the center also provides students with a first-hand look at potential health care careers. For those looking to start or grow their professional careers, a variety of programs are offered through Parkland's Office of Human Resources.
Additionally, the center will be located near three DART bus stops, allowing for improved accessibility as most Parkland patients rely on public transportation to get to and from their medical appointments.
Parkland is investing $30 million in capital expenditures to build a state-of-the-art medical center, with philanthropy playing a key role. The Parkland Health Foundation is committed to raising $12 million to ensure patients have access to health care in the communities where they live, work, and play.
My family has always cared deeply about the center and health of our city. We believe the collaboration between Parkland and the University of Dallas can be a model for the future. And, like other transformative initiatives in Dallas' history, I believe philanthropy is central to the success of this initiative. It is my sincere hope that these words will inspire others to invest in our community by supporting the Richland Health Center at the University of Dallas, like the Eugene McDermott Foundation.
Mary McDermott Cook is a community and philanthropic leader in Dallas and beyond. Eugene has been a philanthropic investor in Parkland Health since 1991. She serves as chairman of the McDermott Foundation.
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