If Kenneth Shine was smoking a cigar on the evening of Nov. 6 to celebrate Travis County voters approval of a property tax increase that will help fund a medical school, hes not telling.

I cant admit to a cigar for health reasons. But in any case, we had a very nice, quiet celebration at home, said Shine, a cardiologist and executive vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Texas System.

For Shine, helping to put the last major piece of the funding puzzle for a medical school at the Austin flagship into place is a signature achievement in a career that has seen several milestones. And at 77, he has decided this might be a good time to retire sort of.

Although he plans to step down early next year from his position overseeing the UT Systems six health campuses, Shine said he would remain in his post until a replacement is named. After that, he plans to work as a consultant to the system on the medical school and other special projects, make patient rounds with students and doctors in training at University Medical Center Brackenridge and perhaps teach at the Austin campus. Travel, fishing and writing are also on his to-do list.

Establishing a medical school in Austin was a priority for the UT System even before Shine arrived in 2003.

But without Ken Shines involvement I just dont think we would be where we are today, said James Huffines, a former chairman of the UT System Board of Regents who was involved in his hiring and who also credited Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa for a never-give-up approach to the plan.

There were numerous bumps along the way, including a sharp downturn in the systems endowments during the recession. It also became clear that the Austin campus could not establish a medical school if the funds to operate it had to come from its existing budget, because that could starve other programs.

The tax increase approved by county voters will generate $54 million in new revenue annually for Central Health, the countys hospital district, and $35 million of that is earmarked for the medical school.

Shine earned bachelors and medical degrees from Harvard University and trained at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was chief resident in medicine. He went on to join the faculty at the University of California at Los Angeles, where he rose to become dean. Later, he became president of the Institute of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences.

One of the greatest privileges I have had as chancellor is working with Ken Shine, said Cigarroa, a transplant surgeon. He is a legend in medical education and health care policy. His experience, intellect and drive are unsurpassed.

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