Cancer Care Milestone
Comprehensive Cancer Center Marks New Era of Cancer Care in Our Borderplex
Hunt Family Foundation announces first gift of Fox Cancer Center’s Building Hope Capital Campaign at groundbreaking ceremony
Today, Texas Tech Health El Paso celebrated the groundbreaking of the Fox Cancer Center, a transformative facility that will deliver comprehensive, world-class cancer care to our Borderplex residents.
“Today marks a milestone not only for Texas Tech Health El Paso, but for our entire Borderplex,” said Texas Tech Health El Paso President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A. “The Fox Cancer Center represents two decades of vision, persistence and generosity. I am especially grateful for our strong partnership with University Medical Center of El Paso and our state delegation, whose leadership and advocacy secured the foundation for this project and are helping turn this vision into reality. I also want to thank the Fox family, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and so many others for their unwavering support.”
Over two sessions across four years, the Texas Legislature recognized the need for the Fox Cancer Center, thanks to a relentless push spearheaded by our local delegation.
"What started as a dream and a goal from the leaders of the University Medical Center of El Paso is now becoming a reality because of the community leaders,” said State Rep. Mary González. “Our borderland community will finally have access to the advanced, life-saving, world-class cancer treatment we deserve right here in El Paso, close to family and our homes. The partnership between UMC and Texas Tech Health El Paso will serve as the model across the state. I’m proud of the work our partners have done to make this goal come to life. I know this center will bring comfort and healing to countless families for years to come."
At the ceremony, the Hunt Family Foundation announced the first gift of the Building Hope Capital Campaign: a $5 million gift to establish the Hunt Medical Oncology Clinic inside the Fox Cancer Center.
“Supporting the Fox Cancer Center builds on my family’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to health care in our region,” said Josh Hunt, President of the Hunt Family Foundation. “The Fox Cancer Center is more than a building. It represents access, equity and hope. We believe the Hunt Medical Oncology Clinic will redefine how patients access life-saving cancer care right here at home. We are proud to invest in a future where families no longer have to leave El Paso to find the treatment they need.”
The Hunt Family Foundation has a long history of supporting Texas Tech Health El Paso. In 2010, the foundation committed $10 million to establish the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing. Since opening, the school has graduated more than 1,500 nurses, with 90% remaining in our community to practice. In 2016, the Hunt Family Foundation gifted $25 million to the university to help bring the first dental school to Texas in 50 years, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
The groundbreaking ceremony honored cancer warriors and their families, with cancer warriors themselves taking the first shovels to the ground — a powerful reminder that nearly every household in our community has been touched by cancer.
“The Fox Cancer Center is a milestone for the Paso del Norte region,” said Jacob Cintron, CEO of UMC. “Families will have access to the most comprehensive cancer care — from advanced treatment options to fully integrated support services — right here in El Paso. Our vision is to deliver a standard of care that rivals the very best available anywhere in the world. Because our community deserves no less.”
The ceremony also marked the start of construction on the university’s Clinical Sciences Building. The facility will share space with the Fox Cancer Center but is funded and tracked as a separate project.
The Building Hope Campaign
Texas Tech Health El Paso has announced the launch of the Building Hope Capital Campaign, a $50 million initiative to bring the Fox Cancer Center to life. A total of $30 million has already been committed by community business leaders Steve and Nancy Fox and their family, as well as the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, to recruit the world-class experts needed to open the center. Thanks to the Hunt Family Foundation’s recent gift, Texas Tech Health El Paso is well on its way to raising the $20 million needed to meet its goal. These gifts will provide the specialized equipment and construction support needed to bridge gaps and ensure the Fox Cancer Center opens at full strength. Every contribution, at any level, will make a difference as we work together to save lives and build a healthier future for our Borderplex.
At more than 350,000 square feet, the Fox Cancer Center and Clinical Sciences Building represent the largest building project in the history of the Texas Tech University System — a milestone that underscores both the vision of the institution and the importance of this investment for our Borderplex.
With dedicated space for medical, surgical and radiation oncology, the Fox Cancer Center will serve up to 1,100 cancer patients annually. Recent forecasts, predict a significant increase in cancer care demand in El Paso by 2033 — growth driven by a rising population, clinical capacity and trust in local providers.
“This is more than a cancer center,” Dr. Lange said at the ceremony. “It’s an investment in health, hope and a stronger economy for our entire Borderplex.”
Connected Care: Keeping Patients Close to Home
Each year, nearly 3,500 El Pasoans are diagnosed with cancer, and many families are forced to leave town for treatment.
The Fox Cancer Center will ensure patients can receive world-class care here in El Paso, surrounded by the support of their families and community. This vision is made possible through the strength of academic medicine and community hospitals working together. Texas Tech Health El Paso’s partnership with UMC reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to advanced treatments and comprehensive care right here at home.
Currently, too many El Pasoans must travel hundreds of miles for treatment. In 2021, 541 adult cancer patients from El Paso County received inpatient care elsewhere—35% of all local inpatient cancer discharges. Of those, 244 traveled to MD Anderson in Houston.
Only 52% of patients completed their full course of cancer treatment locally that year. Another 356 received only partial care, and 66 never returned for treatment after diagnosis.
These statistics reflect more than numbers—they represent families forced to choose between fragmented care at home or leaving their support systems behind. The Fox Cancer Center will end that cycle by bringing early detection services, cutting-edge therapies and groundbreaking clinical trials directly to El Paso.
Powering Economic Growth
The Fox Cancer Center will also be a driver of economic development. Once completed, the center is expected to create up to 500 new high-earning jobs in oncology, clinical research, radiation therapy and nursing. These professionals and their families will thrive in El Paso — expanding opportunities across the region.
Health infrastructure already powers the region’s growth. A recent analysis by the Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business found that Texas Tech Health El Paso contributes $864.2 million annually to the local economy, supports more than 4,500 jobs, and returns $8.76 for every public dollar invested.
Strong Early Support
The Fox Cancer Center and Clinical Sciences Building have already garnered significant early investment:
2021: Texas Legislature appropriated $60 million for a new Clinical Sciences Building, which will be built in conjunction with the Fox Cancer Center.
2023: Texas Legislature appropriated $65 million for planning and construction.
2023: Fox family committed a historic $25 million gift.
2024: Paso del Norte Health Foundation awarded $5 million to support recruitment of world-class specialists.
2024: El Paso County voters approved a $396.6 million bond for University Medical Center of El Paso, including $30 million for the cancer center.
2025: Texas Legislature appropriated $65 million for planning and construction.
2025: Hunt Family Foundation announced $5 million for the Hunt Medical Oncology Clinic.
This progress would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy and support of our state and local delegations, who have championed the Fox Cancer Center from the very beginning.
This momentum underscores our community’s commitment to ensuring cancer patients no longer need to leave El Paso for comprehensive treatment.
How You Can Join the Building Hope Campaign
The Building Hope Campaign offers an opportunity to transform cancer care for families across West Texas and our entire Borderplex. Pledges may be fulfilled over multiple years, allowing donors to make a long-term impact. Every gift of any size has the power to save a life, offer hope, and be a part of our community's cancer center forever.
We invite our Borderplex community to join us. Go HERE to learn more about ways to give and follow the campaign progress.
At Texas Tech Health El Paso, we’re building more than a campus. We’re powering a healthier, stronger Borderplex.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
With a focus on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.