Dr. William L. Henrich, the president of UT Health San Antonio, has died, the school confirmed Thursday.
Henrich helmed one of the state’s top health schools since 2009, leading UT Health San Antonio through its biggest years of growth and most recently working to establish the new UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, which will open this year, the Center for Oral Health Care and Research, the Center for Brain Health and the new UT School of Public Health San Antonio opening in the fall.
According to UT Health San Antonio, Henrich died Thursday morning following unexpected complications from a second stem cell transplant.
Henrich had been open about his battle with a rare form of blood cancer called myelodysplasia (MDS) in the 2010s. He was 77.
Henrich is survived by his wife, Mary, their two children and their five grandchildren.
“He was a visionary leader and a joy to work with, and his creativity, hard work and passion will always be examples for all of us,” Acting President Dr. Rob Hromas and Chancellor James B. Milliken said in a statement. “His laugh will ring through our corridors for many years.”
In February, Henrich shared a recorded message with students and faculty announcing that he would be taking a leave to receive medical treatment, with Hromas stepping in as acting president. Henrich said he still planned to engage with campus leadership through regular meetings during his leave.
Henrich was a passionate teacher, earning accolades along the way for his mentorship of students, residents and young physicians.
He was instrumental in securing numerous research grants for UT Health San Antonio, which grew “six-fold” under his leadership, according to his friend and colleague Jim Reed, President of the San Antonio Medical Foundation.
Henrich’s health had been wavering in recent years, said Reed, who described him as a visionary and builder who took time to be involved in the community.
At a 2018 UT Health San Antonio Cancer Council luncheon moderated by San Antonio Report co-founder Robert Rivard, Henrich opened up about his blood cancer diagnosis and returning to his role as president after undergoing a successful stem cell transplant using his son’s stem cells.
“No task was more urgent for Dr. Henrich than developing UT Health San Antonio’s expansion to include comprehensive, in-patient cancer treatment so others would not have to leave home like he did to seek world-class medical care and treatment,” Rivard said Thursday. “San Antonio has lost one of its greatest leaders.”
Tullos Wells, a member of the school’s President’s Council, said he admired his friend’s efforts in building the UT Health San Antonio brand and his effort in recruiting the best faculty.
“There are monuments to Bill Henrich that are built all over this city in terms of buildings, and there are monuments to Bill Henrich that exist in the hearts of people like me,” Wells said.
A kidney specialist whose goal was to improve dialysis and vascular renal disease, Henrich wrote 300 original articles and chapters, and was the founding editor of the popular dialysis textbook, “Henrich’s Principles and Practice of Dialysis.”
Henrich studied English at Columbia University, then went to medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. He later completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The University of Oregon Medical School and a fellowship in Nephrology at The University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Before serving as president, Henrich was the dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for Medical Affairs, and served as professor of medicine at schools including The University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, and served as professor and department chair of medical schools at the the Medical College of Ohio, and at The University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
‘Building builder’
Joseph R. Krier, former president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said Henrich will be remembered as “one of the giants of San Antonio’s number one industry.”
“His hard work, vision, and leadership were indispensable parts of that industry’s significant growth. The increase in buildings, hospitals, and research facilities is a testament to his efforts,” Krier said.
Henrich was a “genuine, caring friend” who stayed close to his friends when they needed him the most, Texas Biomedical Research Institute CEO Dr. Larry Schlesinger said.
“Bill has been a driving force in the elevation in stature of our city’s premier medical school — his leadership literally made lives better,” he said. “So many at Texas Biomed know and have been inspired by Bill and his dedication to research and education.
We will move forward with ways to honor his legacy as a friend and collaborator.”
Business was what brought Reed and Henrich together — in its history, SAMA’s foundation gave UT Health San Antonio more than 250 acres of land to grow its footprint — but what grew the close ties between them, Reed said, was Henrich’s honesty, ethics, leadership and his straight-forward dealings.
Reed suggested that regents could honor Henrich by naming a planned new hospital after the late president, in memorial to his vision and growth prospects.
“Many people, they’re either academicians — internally focused — or a building builder, but Bill Henrich was both, and you don’t see that too often in presidents.”
In the February video announcing his leave, Henrich reminded faculty, staff and students of the pride he felt in the important work the school would continue to do in his absence.
“So many people are depending on us, counting on us to be successful in our missions,” he said. “I look forward to seeing everyone in person again very soon. In the meantime, warm wishes for every continued success.”
UT Health San Antonio and the San Antonio Medical Foundation are financial supporters of the San Antonio Report. For a full list of business members, click here.
