SAN ANTONIO – In a move that reflects both urgency and unity, CHRISTUS Health and University Health announced Wednesday they will immediately begin the process of transferring ownership of the former CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center campus to University Health, following a unanimous vote by the Bexar County Hospital District Board of Managers.

The agreement, reached between two of Bexar County’s largest nonprofit health systems, marks a rare alignment in mission and timing at a moment when demand for hospital services continues to surge across the region.

This transition ensures that the facility continues to meet the needs of area residents with the same spirit of compassion and excellence that CHRISTUS is known for,” said Ernie Sadau, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Health. “CHRISTUS Health has proudly served San Antonio for over 150 years, and so it was important for us to find a buyer that shares our vision for the community and the region.

The hospital, located in the South Texas Medical Center, was closed by CHRISTUS in April as part of a broader consolidation strategy. The 45-acre site includes a four-story, 236,000-square-foot hospital built in 1986 and two additional medical office buildings. The sale is expected to close in late September or early October.

The acquisition comes at a pivotal time for University Health, which is in the midst of a $1.5 billion expansion aimed at easing patient loads and expanding access across the county.

“The location and size of the CHRISTUS Medical Center property, and the timing of this opportunity could not be better as we are experiencing unprecedented growth in patient volumes,” said Edward Banos, president and CEO of University Health. “Acquiring this 45-acre hospital campus will help decompress University Hospital, and provide convenient parking and easy access for our patients in need of advanced specialty care and diagnostic services.”

University Health plans to provide more details about the campus and its service offerings later this year. Banos will formally present an overview of the deal during University Health’s annual tax rate presentation to the Bexar County Commissioners Court on August 5. The purchase will be covered through existing funds, and officials emphasized that no tax rate increase will be required.

For Bexar County officials, the deal represents more than a change in ownership—it is a significant opportunity to reinforce care infrastructure in a growing, aging region.

This is wonderful news for our community,” said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. “The acquisition of this campus is a game-changing opportunity for our hospital district to expand access to care, strategically, with the best interests of patients at the forefront, and with a goal of truly improving the good health of this community.

CHRISTUS, an international Catholic health system, said the Medical Center closure was part of a broader realignment of services, with $300 million invested over the last five years in expanding other hospitals, building ambulatory care centers, and growing its physician network in Bexar, Comal, and Hays counties.

University Health’s expansion includes two new five-story hospitals on the South and Northeast sides of San Antonio, both slated to open in early 2027. Two public health and multi-specialty clinics, on the East and South sides, are expected to open this fall.

Though the two health systems operate under different models—faith-based nonprofit and public hospital district—their leaders said the transfer reflects a shared mission.

“As the only remaining nonprofit health care systems in Bexar County,” the organizations said in a joint statement, “CHRISTUS Health and University Health are uniquely positioned to ensure the hospital campus continues to serve the community with a mission-driven approach.”

For San Antonio’s fast-growing population, that approach could mean greater access, more equity, and care that remains grounded in the public good.