New Level I trauma-capable hospital named in honor of transformational gift
HOUSTON (Jan. 23, 2026) — Leaders of Harris Health and the Harris Health Strategic Fund jointly announce a historic $40 million commitment from The John M. O’Quinn Foundation to support Harris Health’s $2.5 billion bond funded projects and the new hospital under construction on the campus of Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Northeast Houston. In recognition of the generous support by The Foundation, the new hospital will be named the Harris Health John M. O’Quinn Hospital upon its completion in 2028.
The announcement was made in front of 150 attendees during a topping-off ceremony for the new hospital, as the final steel beam was placed atop the 12-story structure. The event also marked the kick-off celebration of Harris Health’s 60th anniversary year.
The new hospital, which had its groundbreaking in May 2024 and plans to open in January 2029, will help meet the increasing demand for trauma and healthcare in Harris County, and will add much-needed clinical training opportunities for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and area nursing colleges. The O’Quinn Foundation’s transformational grant is the largest gift ever received by Harris Health, to date, and is among the largest of its kind to a public healthcare system in the state.
"Naming the new hospital is a reflection of the deep trust and shared vision of a healthier Harris County among Harris Health, the Harris Health Strategic Fund, and The John M. O’Quinn Foundation," said Beth Robertson, chair, Harris Health Strategic Fund. "Together, we're building more than a hospital – we're strengthening excellence in public healthcare and providing hope for generations of residents in Harris County and the greater southeast Texas region."
"This gift is yet another extraordinary testament to John M. O’Quinn’s legacy and his unwavering dedication to expanding access to high-quality healthcare," said Rob C. Wilson III, president, The John M. O’Quinn Foundation. "His generosity is helping to shape the future of public healthcare for our community and is bringing to life this transformational vision of Harris Health’s next generation of clinical facilities."
An accomplished attorney and philanthropist, the late John M. O’Quinn established The John M. O’Quinn Foundation in 1986 to focus on conservation, education, healthcare and programs benefiting underprivileged youth in Houston and the surrounding area. The Foundation bearing his name committed $40 million to the Harris Health Strategic Fund’s capital campaign in support of Harris Health’s bond-funded projects, approved by Harris County voters in 2023.
The Harris Health Strategic Fund has played a pivotal role in building philanthropic support for Harris Health and is finding tremendous donor engagement and success in its first capital campaign to support the system’s $3.2 billion strategic facilities improvement plan.
"Thanks to the Strategic Fund’s incredible vision for philanthropy, we continue to push the boundaries of public healthcare investment and transformation," said Esmaeil Porsa, MD, president and chief executive officer, Harris Health. "Their leadership, generosity and commitment will be reflected in the compassionate, state-of-the-art care we will be able to provide at our new Level I trauma-capable hospital, an expanded Ben Taub Hospital and within the three new community clinics we are adding to our network of primary care locations."
"The O’Quinn Foundation's transformative investment in the well-being of future generations of Harris County marks a pivotal moment in our ability to reshape access to public healthcare, train the next generation of caregivers, and improve the overall health of our communities," said Andrea Caracostis, MD, chair, Haris Health Board of Trustees. "The O’Quinn Foundation's commitment to advancing our bond projects will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the patients and families we are privileged to serve."
The region's uninsured population, already the largest in the country, is expected to grow rapidly as the federal government’s enhanced premium subsidies to Marketplace insurance programs have expired, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to top-tier public healthcare.