UIW and Methodist Healthcare Enter Historic Agreement
Partnership Promises to Offer Educational Opportunities to Thousands
San Antonio – March 19, 2024 – The University of the Incarnate Word School of Professional Studies (UIWSPS) and Methodist Healthcare have entered into a historic agreement that promises to lift the lives of thousands of employees and their families.
The two entities formalized and celebrated a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday, March 18, 2024, which was initiated over a year ago. It is a collaboration poised to transform the professional landscape of the 13,500 Methodist Healthcare employees in San Antonio. This initiative will unlock pathways for employees and their families to pursue, advance, or refine work skills through an array of degree programs offered through UIWSPS. The two institutions will also partner to provide customized training programs for specific needs within Methodist Healthcare.
“It is a privilege to partner with the University of the Incarnate Word to bring affordable higher education to our staff and their families,” said Dan Miller, CEO and president of Methodist Healthcare. “Connecting our workforce with opportunities to grow their knowledge at a pace that suits their lifestyle and goals is just one way to show our gratitude for being a part of the Methodist Healthcare family.”
“This agreement between Methodist Healthcare and the University of the Incarnate Word brings together two institutions with missions rooted in serving others and committed to meeting the needs of our community,” said Dr. Thomas M. Evans, UIW president. “We are proud to partner with Methodist Healthcare in supporting their workforce development needs and the continuous development of their hardworking healthcare professionals and staff.”
At the heart of this partnership lies the innovative Triple Helix Executive Leadership for Global Competitiveness model developed by UIWSPS Dean and Associate Provost of Strategic Outreach and Partnership, Dr. Osman Özturgut. This approach fosters deep, meaningful partnerships among industry, government and higher education. Together, the partnerships cultivate a robust and skilled workforce, driving progress in our communities and advancing social and economic equity.
“Our collaboration with Methodist Healthcare extends beyond workforce development; it’s about forging an engaged partnership that will encompass various initiatives,” said Özturgut. “When two institutions with aligned missions join forces, the potential for impact is boundless.”
“Our workforce development initiatives of offering skill enhancement and career advancement opportunities are a priority at Methodist Healthcare and as such, it is a true honor to formalize our partnership with an organization equally dedicated to serving our community,” said Jimena Saenz, AVP of Workforce Planning and Development. “I know this is one of many milestones to come from working together to create even more workforce development enrichment opportunities for our employees.”
The University of the Incarnate Word is an institution steeped in the tradition of healing. UIW’s story began when three Catholic Sisters from France answered a call to help care for the victims of yellow fever and cholera in the mid-1800’s. Now, UIW counts multiple schools and programs on its campuses in the U.S. and Mexico. In San Antonio alone, UIW encompasses five health professions schools and has become a leader in educating the healthcare heroes of tomorrow in the areas of Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Physical and Rehabilitative Therapy, Optometry and Pharmacy. The University also added a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in 2023.
The stated mission of Methodist Healthcare is “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by providing exceptional and cost-effective health care accessible to all. Since opening its first hospital in 1963, the system has remained committed to being a world-class health care provider, continually raising the standards of performance excellence and advancing the health status of the community. With 13,500 employees, Methodist Healthcare is the second largest private employer in San Antonio.
This partnership represents a significant expansion of Methodist Healthcare and UIW’s commitment to collaborative excellence. By joining forces, the two institutions are not only opening doors for personal and professional growth but also building a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
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Media Contact: Michael Valdes, Media and Public Relations Manager, Office of Communications & Brand Marketing, (210) 829-6001, (210) 422-4052 or michael.valdes@uiwtx.edu
About UIW
With over 140 years of tradition, the University of the Incarnate Word is committed to educational excellence in a context of faith in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God. UIW programs constitute a liberal education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions. Founded in 1881, UIW is the largest Catholic university in the state and the fourth largest private university in Texas. UIW students can choose from degrees offered at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. The University is committed to graduating students with the lowest amount of debt load possible and to help them secure a career that lifts their lives, their families and their communities. With a beautiful main campus in the heart of San Antonio, in 2019, UIW purchased a 10-acre landmark property at 4119 Broadway which increased the footprint of the UIW Broadway Campus by 15%. The building is now known as Founders Hall. UIW has locations throughout San Antonio, South and Central Texas, two campuses in Mexico and a European Study Center in Strasbourg, France. UIW is a leader in international education, with over 146 “sister schools” in 45 countries and it is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution. The University is a member of the NCAA Division I Southland Conference and is proud to have 25 teams representing 14 different sports. UIW is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
About Methodist Healthcare
Methodist Healthcare is a 50-50 co-ownership between Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., South Texas’ largest non-public funding source of community health care for uninsured patients; and HCA Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of healthcare services. This creates a unique partnership that ensures Methodist Healthcare Ministries continues to benefit the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. Methodist Healthcare invested $818 million in charity and indigent care to the community in 2022 alone. With over 30 facilities, including ten hospitals and nine freestanding emergency departments, over 732,783 ER, inpatients and outpatients are served annually. The Methodist Healthcare team is comprised of 13,500 staff, making the system the second largest private employer in San Antonio. With more than 3,400 credentialed physicians, Methodist Healthcare provides the largest array of medical services in the region, including neurosurgery, cardiovascular services, oncology and women’s services. And, with 25 surgical robots, Methodist Healthcare is a national leader in robotic surgery, as well as home to the nation’s largest Live Donor Kidney Transplant program and several Fortune/Merative Top 100 Hospitals in the nation for its outstanding quality outcomes. Visit SAHealth.com to learn more.