| Osteopathic Medicine
Transforming learning communities with the ability to impact civic engagement, education, health and healthcare in the global community.
By the Numbers
1/3
of medical school students in the US attend schools of osteopathic medicine
30%
Student population are underrepresented minority students
100%
Class of 2025 placement rate
Continuing the osteopathic medicine tradition of bringing health care to where it is needed
UIWSOM provides a learner-centered, case-based environment empowering students and faculty to recognize and address the medical needs of underserved populations, specifically those in South Texas. With a focus on primary care, graduates are well prepared for the ethical, compassionate, and altruistic practice of medicine.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
The transformation from a medical student to a fully-reflective Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine begins with our curriculum.
- Stresses independent study and self-directed learning
- Teaches and integrates biomedical sciences as they would be applied in clinical settings
- Provides early exposure to experiential learning and patient contact
- Fosters professional identity formation
- Emphasizes the interpersonal skills required of successful healthcare teams
- Awakens in you a sense of social accountability and cultural awareness
Comprehensive Education
The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) curriculum is integrated and designed to support students in their acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies expected at each level of training, and to culminate with entry into graduate medical education programs with the competencies required of an entering PGY1 (Post Graduate Year 1) resident. UIWSOM is the corporate sponsor of the Texas Institute for Graduate Medical Education and Research (TIGMER). TIGMER is the Institutional Sponsor for our five ACGME-accredited residency programs in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry, as well as Advanced Endoscopy and two ACGME-accredited fellowships in Sports Medicine and Hand Surgery.
State-of-the-Art-Facilities
The 155,000-square-foot campus includes four independent buildings housing administrative services, student services, and library. Other features of the UIWSOM campus include:
- Modern anatomy lab with full functioning dissection suite and individual stations with independent computer access.
- Small group collaboration rooms
- 1530 square-feet of dedicated research space
- Osteopathic clinical skills learning studio
- Experiential learning center housing simulation labs and 12 standardized patient exam rooms
- Gym, e-Sports room, outdoor sports court, community kitchen and garden.
UIWSOM is located at Brooks, a historic district, redeveloped into a thriving educational and economic area in San Antonio, Texas.
Community Connection
Our goal is to ensure quality, equity, relevance and effectiveness in health care delivery. San Antonio, the country's 7th largest city, and enjoys vibrant cultural diversity, reasonable cost of living, and a growing health care industry. Many rotation sites are located in San Antonio, Laredo, and Corpus Christi. Additionally, UIWSOM will offer Core sites in Houston and California beginning in 2025. San Antonio is referred to as "Military City, USA" and is home to multiple military bases and San Antonio Military Medical Center, the largest inpatient medical facility in the Department of Defense.
Connect With UIWBe the Word in the World
Since UIW was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, we have challenged our students to think critically, explore curiously and to leverage their God-given talents to make positive impacts on their communities and the world around them.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
We are one of 41 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) institutions in the United States. Combined, we educate more than 30,000 future physicians — 25% of all U.S. medical students.
With over 100,000 practicing DOs in the US currently, the U.S. healthcare system stands to benefit from the care and treatment by DOs who embody the osteopathic philosophy.
- It is estimated that there will be a shortage of 35,000 primary care physicians by 2025.
- Texas ranks 47th out of 50 states for number of primary care physicians for the population.
(Source: Association of American Medical Colleges) - Because of our whole-person approach to medicine, 56% of all DOs choose to practice in the primary care disciplines of family practice, general internal medicine and pediatrics.
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians who apply their distinct philosophy to patient care in every medical specialty. They are taught early on that optimal health is a dynamic interaction between the mind, body and spirit. From this philosophy, osteopathic physicians naturally focus on understanding the person they are treating rather than only the presenting symptoms. The goal of the osteopathic physician is to enhance the body’s natural self-healing processes. This holistic approach is the heart of osteopathic medicine and is done with empathy and compassion whether hands on osteopathic manipulative treatment is used or modalities such as pharmaceuticals or surgery.
Connect with UIW
Contact our Recruitment Coordinator if you would like to learn more about UIWSOM or if you have questions.
Allison Ogle
UIWSOM Class of 2021