Future in Focus is built through a rigorous, community-led engagement process. It's not a rapid one-time exercise, but an ongoing engine that feeds strategy continuously. From leadership and community interviews to university-wide surveys and town halls, every step is designed to capture the full range of voices that make UTHealth Houston great.
How we're building the plan
Our process moves through four interconnected phases, each building on the last. We listen before we decide, analyze before we advise, and share findings with the community before anything is finalized.
Phase 1Launch and communicate
Through July 15, 2026
Future in Focus begins with a conversation. Early discussions across our schools share the vision for the planning process and invite the community in. A formal university-wide announcement marks the official launch on July 15.
Phase 2Listen and learn
July - October 2026
Faculty, staff, students, and community partners contribute through surveys, focus groups, town halls, and listening sessions. This phase is built on hearing from people across the university, spanning all schools and all missions.
Phase 3Analyze and synthesize
Late Fall 2026
Input from the community is brought together with a rigorous assessment of where UTHealth Houston stands today and where the greatest opportunities lie. Emerging themes are shared with the community, and feedback continues before anything is finalized.
Phase 4Publish plan
Spring 2027
Future in Focus plan finalized, published, and integrated into ongoing university operations.
A plan built for engagement
We are using an engagement-first model, not a prescribed governance structure. The Future in Focus process is designed for listening before decision-making, gathering input across our mission areas and directly from members of our university community.
Engagement and structure
The plan draws on six focus group streams:
- Research focus groups: Research and clinical research faculty and leaders across schools
- Education focus groups: Education leaders, curriculum leads, student representatives; AI and innovation in education
- Clinical focus groups and partner sessions: Clinical leaders, Memorial Hermann Health System and Harris Health leadership; market footprint and growth
- Institutional drivers of excellence: Technology, AI, HR, finance, operations; culture, infrastructure, and support
- Faculty, staff, student, and trainee voices: Current stakeholders with fresh perspectives on the university
- External and community: Community leaders, donors, academic partners, board advisors
A shared home for insights
As focus groups, surveys, and listening sessions unfold across our schools, the Future in Focus Project Hub brings the resulting insights, information, and updates together in one place for the teams leading this work, connecting what we're learning across every work stream as Future in Focus takes shape.
Where we are in the process
| Status | Milestone | Target Date |
|---|---|---|
| Complete |
President’s listening tour launched - President’s university-wide listening tour across all schools and departments. |
November 2025 |
| Complete |
Chief Business Affairs and Strategy Officer joins UTHealth Houston charged with launching strategic planning process. |
April 30, 2026 |
|
Complete |
Future in Focus launch - University-wide launch of the strategic plan process, digital hub, and engagement campaign. |
July 15, 2026 |
| In progress |
Listen and learn phase - Town halls, focus groups, leadership interviews, and surveys across all seven schools and missions. |
July-October, 2026 |
| In progress |
Fast Track Initiatives (parallel track) - Research infrastructure, clinical expansion, operational excellence, and AI and technology infrastructure. Moving forward now—not waiting for the plan to be complete. |
Now through 2027 (ongoing) |
| Upcoming |
Analyze and synthesize phase - Findings synthesized into strategic pillars with national benchmarking. |
August - Late Fall 2026 |
| Upcoming |
Draft framework complete - 10-year strategic framework and high-level investment roadmap finalized. |
Early 2027 |
| Upcoming |
Plan publication - Future in Focus plan published and embedded into university operations. |
Spring 2027 |
Fast Track Initiatives: What’s next starts now
We aren’t waiting for a finished plan to start building what’s next. Even as the full 10-year framework takes shape through Future in Focus, we are already moving on several Fast Track Initiatives—priority areas identified through early stakeholder engagement where action can and should begin now. These initiatives run in parallel with the planning process, not after it. Transformation doesn’t have to wait.
Education
Through initiatives like the Future Nurses Fund and the nation's first university-wide affiliation with a health department, we are expanding access and advancing educational innovation.
Research
Early assessment of additional infrastructure and ROI analysis to support long-term growth across our basic science and clinical research platforms.
Clinical care
Exploring clinical footprint growth with UT Physicians, UT Dentists, Memorial Hermann, Harris Health, and behavioral health assets across the region. Strengthening the clinical practice through business transformation, process improvement, efficiency initiatives, and sustainable performance across provider groups.
Organizational excellence
Implementing enterprise data analytics and new Enterprise Resource Planning platform. Scoping institutional AI deployment, digital transformation priorities, and operational updates that position UTHealth Houston to compete nationally as a modern health science university.
How to stay connected and get involved
Future in Focus is designed to keep the university community informed and engaged throughout the entire planning process.
Everything you need to know about Future in Focus lives at uth.edu/strategic-plan. This is your central source for updates, timelines, key documents, and information about how to get involved. The site will grow and deepen as the planning process moves forward, so check back in to learn about new developments.
Should you have questions about the Future in Focus process, please email [email protected].