On May 15, Southside Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Tyler-based Southside Bank, announced the election of Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun to the company’s board of directors. He was also appointed to the bank’s board of directors.
Calhoun has served a combined 22 years as the president of the University of Texas–Tyler and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT). He retired from those positions on May 31. Calhoun led the University of Texas–Tyler since it merged with UTHSCT in 2021. He began his presidency of UTHSCT in 2002, making him the longest-serving acting president in the University of Texas system.
Calhoun began his medical career in a private practice focused on internal medicine and nephrology, and subsequently pursued his passion in academic medicine. Over his 40-year career, he has held many roles. including corporate medical director of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston HealthCare Systems, senior vice president of Parkland Hospital, associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
Calhoun serves as chair of the University of Texas Health East Texas board of directors, on the executive committee of Teaching Hospitals of Texas and is immediate past chair of the American Association of Medical Colleges board. He has received numerous awards for his work and leadership in health care, public health, higher education and community service, including the T.B. Butler Citizen of the Year Award. He is also an inductee in the prestigious Doctor Luke Society. In 2023, Calhoun was awarded the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, District IV.
“Dr. Calhoun has led the University of Texas–Tyler and UT Health Science Center through extraordinary change and growth and is well-respected across the state,” says Lee R. Gibson, president and CEO. “He is a true visionary and I have no doubt he will bring great contributions and depth to Southside’s boards.”
Established in 1960, Southside Bank operates 54 branches and one loan production office in East Texas, Southeast Texas and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and Houston areas.
