Earlanda Williams, PhD

Dr. Earlanda Williams serves as the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Anatomy at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM), where she has been a faculty member since 2016. She earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in 2009, where her dissertation research focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying T cell tolerance to the acetylcholine receptor—the autoantigen implicated in Myasthenia gravis.

Prior to joining UIWSOM, Dr. Williams was on the faculty at UTHSCSA for seven years, where she devoted herself to anatomy education and service across a range of health professions. She has designed and led anatomy curricula for programs in dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical engineering and master's-level anatomy, as well as anatomy teaching electives for students interested in medical education.

Dr. Williams' current academic focus centers on innovative methods in anatomy education, including the development of 3D-printed anatomical models and interactive teaching tools. She is a nationally active member of the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) and has served as a board exam item writer and reviewer for the National Board of Dental Examiners (NBDE) and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME).

Her scholarly contributions include ancillary content for a dental hygiene textbook published by F.A. Davis and the development of anatomy animation software. In 2024, she completed the Senior Leadership Development Program (SLDP) through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), further demonstrating her commitment to fostering the growth of both faculty and students in the osteopathic profession.

• Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health San Antonio, 2009
• B.S. in Biology, Texas State University, 2002