UIW’s med school a gem for the community
San Antonio's newest medical school couldn't arrive soon enough.
The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine has launched the school with an inaugural class of 150 medical students.
Many of these students will go on to serve the San Antonio region, meaning these future doctors will raise their families here and treat the families of others.
That's an immeasurable return on investment.
This is San Antonio's second medical school, and the Brooks location turned out to be ideal. The original aim was to place UIW's medical school downtown. But plans fell through, and Brooks emerged as the right site.
The 16-acre campus underwent $50 million in renovations, fueled by private donations. Its presence on the Southeast Side — where there are fewer doctors, and health challenges and disparities are high — is a potential game changer for the region. It brings geographic balance to health policy, research and service.
Lou Agnese, UIW's former president who carried the medical school vision into reality, predicted this will become the crown jewel of the city's medical community. We share his enthusiasm. It will be exciting to see San Antonio's newest medical school evolve and grow with time. This is a tremendous addition to the UIW campus, one that will serve this community for generations.
