UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine Graduate named National DO Student of the Year
Student Dr. Denise Vera Nemeth set to cross the stage during UIW Commencement Ceremony
San Antonio – May 6, 2025 – “In my heart, I have always known medicine is my mission in life.”
Those are the words of student Dr. Denise Vera Nemeth, who is set to be a Class of 2025 graduate from the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) and who was recently named National DO Student of the Year by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
“I grew up on the US-Mexico border in a medically underserved community, where access to care was often limited or delayed,” reflects Vera Nemeth. “From a very early age, I was exposed to rural medicine when I would go on house calls to small ranches in Mexico with my uncle Dr. Ruben Chavez, a family medicine doctor. I began my career as a physician assistant, and while I loved caring for patients, I realized I wanted to take a larger role in shaping the way care is delivered. Becoming a doctor felt like the right next step to make a bigger impact on the communities I care about most.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate Student Doctor Denise Vera Nemeth being named AACOM’s National Student Doctor of the Year,” says Dr. John Pham, dean of UIWSOM. “Her unwavering dedication to healthcare and service to underserved communities reflects her remarkable passion and promise as a future surgeon. Denise represents the very best of UIWSOM, and we are confident she will go on to achieve extraordinary things in her career.Congratulations, Denise – we couldn’t be more proud!”
Vera Nemeth, who is originally from Eagle Pass, was also selected as the Student Doctor of the Year by the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association and this past March she found out that she will do her residency training at HCA Florida Orange Park in Jacksonville, Florida where her specialty is General Surgery. Vera Nemeth received her National DO Student of the Year award during a special ceremony in April where AACOM presented its annual awards.
“Denise Vera Nemeth and our other honorees represent the very best of the osteopathic medical education community,” says AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “From lifelong service and innovation to leadership and advocacy, they exemplify the excellence and dedication that define our profession. By recognizing their achievements, we celebrate their lasting contributions and inspire the next generation of leaders in osteopathic medicine.”
“It’s incredibly humbling,” says Vera Nemeth. “There are so many talented and hardworking students out there and to be selected among them is something I don’t take lightly. I didn’t follow a traditional path to medicine, and like many students from underrepresented backgrounds, I’ve faced setbacks that could have easily derailed this journey. To be recognized at both the school and national level reminds me that there is space in medicine for people like me… people who lead with heart, who show up for their communities and who don’t give up. This award isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a reflection of every mentor, patient, and peer who helped me believe I belonged here.”
And as she sets her sights on the future of her medical journey, there is still the matter of one last step at UIW. Vera Nemeth’s next big accomplishment will take place Saturday, May 10, when she walks the stage at Freeman Coliseum as part of the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine’s graduating Class of 2025. Hundreds of graduates will take part in two commencement ceremonies which will take place at 10 am and 3 pm. Vera Nemeth will be a part of the 3 pm ceremony bringing to a close her chapter at UIWSOM.
“UIWSOM stood out to me because of it’s mission,” concludes Vera Nemeth. “I didn’t just want to go to medical school. I wanted to learn how to serve and advocate for communities that are often overlooked. This school made it clear that empathy, advocacy and equity matter just as much as clinical skills. From day one, it felt like the right place for someone like me.”
Photo caption: Dr. Denise Vera Nemeth/National DO Student of the Year
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Media Contact: Michael Valdes, Assistant Director/Media and Public Relations, 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 20%. The building is now known as Founders Hall. UIW has locations throughout San Antonio, 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 15 different sports. UIW is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.