UT Tyler Opens New Building at Longview Campus
October 2, 2025 | Elizabeth Wingfield
Announces Plans to Launch Physician Assistant Program
The University of Texas at Tyler opened the new expansion to the Longview University Center and announced plans to launch the first physician assistant program in East Texas.
With the support of Texas Rep. Jay Dean, funding for the building expansion and the
PA program was provided by the 88th Texas Legislature. The Legislature provided $10
million for the 10,144
square-foot expansion that includes a large classroom, multipurpose lab space, nursing
skills and
health assessment labs and centralized study areas. This additional space enables
UT Tyler to broaden its undergraduate and graduate degree offerings — like the new
PA program — in Longview and across Gregg County.
“With the help of Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, we were able
to secure $5 million for the UT Tyler Longview University Center,” said Dean. “This
important program will focus
on providing more quality health care for our community and region. I want to also
thank County Judge Bill Stoudt who has been involved with the development of the Longview
campus since day
one. Now we are bringing more opportunities for our local and regional health care
students. In visiting with many local physicians, this program will greatly assist
them in making our community a premier center for quality health care.”
The PA program is expected to welcome its first class in 2027, and Seth Holland, a veteran physician assistant with extensive experience in trauma and critical care, will serve as the founding director.
“This new facility represents a significant step forward in expanding our presence
in Longview and 
enhancing educational opportunities in the health and sciences,” said UT Tyler President Julie V.
Philley, MD. “Our region continues to face critical challenges in health care access, and the
launch of this PA program is a strategic response—aimed at preparing skilled, compassionate
providers
committed to serving communities where they are needed most.”
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, physician assistants
increase health care access in rural communities where there can be a shortage of
providers. One physician
assistant position can create 18.5 local jobs and $940,892 of labor income with a
hospital in the community.
The 27-month master’s degree program will prepare students to provide care in high-demand fields such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and mental health.
“Longview and East Texas are at the heart of this program,” Holland said. “By preparing
graduates to serve with excellence here at home, we’re also positioning them to help
influence the future of
health care across Texas and the nation.”
Holland received his Doctor of Science in physician assistant studies at Baylor University. He has served as the advance practice provider supervisor for trauma services at Seton Surgical Group and lead trauma physician assistant at South Austin Trauma Surgeons. He held multiple leadership roles during his two decades in the military.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.