Laura L. Aten, MEd, EdD

SIGS Facilitator

Dr. Aten enthusiastically joined the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine as a SIGS facilitator in 2018, after retiring from a 31-year career as a public secondary school educator. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Curriculum and Instruction in 1987 from Texas A&M University and then taught English literature and composition in San Antonio and Houston. In 1993, Dr. Aten earned a Master of Education from the University of Houston before moving back to the San Antonio area, where she continued to teach. Along with an interest in developing an engaging language arts and humanities curriculum for her students, Dr. Aten completed action research in mentoring, leadership development and reflective practice. She earned her Ed.D. from the University of Texas in San Antonio in Educational Leadership in 2003, where her dissertation explored the ways that guided, reflective journaling improved the professional practices of educators. Dr. Aten has published two books and enjoys both hosting and participating in writing workshops, spoken word poetry events, and encouraging others to find and share their voice effectively and creatively. She believes that disciplined reflection and writing can play a transformational role in medical education and practice. Dr. Aten and her husband, Donald, have two children, two dogs, two “grand”dogs and three “grand”cats. They look forward to an expanding family with additional “grands.”