The University of the Incarnate Word is popularly known by the name of the University of The Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM). This medical school is the major part of the oldest Catholic University and is one of the newly established medical schools in place of Texas. This very first class session of this medical school was started in the year 2017, which was based on 162 students.
As UIWSOM is working as the newly introduced medical school, therefore it completely holds the pre-accreditation status through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Thus, this accreditation holds the status in the starting 4 years of student enrollment.
UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine has been offering 2 years of a degree program which is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (4-year) as well as Master of Biomedical Sciences (1-year).
Major Pillars of Osteopathic Medicine Care:
- Functional
- Holistic
- Patient-centred
- Primary Care Focus
- Preventive
This medical school has been engaged in providing the ethical and moral standards in all aspects being into compliance with Sisters of Charity as well as the University of the Incarnate Word’s mission. The medical school has been embracing variations over the treatment of patients of different genders, or backgrounds.
Hence it completely aims to demonstrate sensitivity and compassion towards patients’ care and respect their dignity and privacy.
Furthermore, this medical school is also aiming to transform the students through service-learning initiatives and community engagement. This will be providing a golden opportunity for the students in demonstrating a commitment over an ongoing series of professional development. The school is also protecting human resources and economic scenarios to use it effectively.
Foundational Pillars of UIWSOM:
UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine was initiated over the 4 foundational pillars which were developed based on student support and a life-changing learner-centred curriculum. Four major foundational pillars of this medical school are:
- Focus on innovation and inquiry
- Focus over professional identity formation
- Standardization of basic learning outcomes or individualizing the major learning process
- Integrating a set of clinical experiences and knowledge
UIW Medical School Important Academic Degrees:
Many students are looking forward to making their future in the subject of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Dos are working as licensed and certified physicians who readily apply to the definite philosophy and advanced knowledge related to patient care in various medical specialities.
The Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are fully focusing on the understanding scenario of the patients in treating different diseases. There are around 100,000 Dos who are working in the United States. The healthcare system of the US is completely taking the benefit out of the advanced treatment provided by the Dos, which simply incorporates the advanced osteopathic philosophy.
Admission Criteria:
Now let’s talk about the UIWSOM admission criteria of this program! All the courses in this field have to be taking a right through an accredited university or college. Students should have a minimum grade of C or even higher in all the courses which make around 2.0 CGPA. C grade does not meet up the requirements of coursework.
Below are the basic details about the coursework:
- Completion of at least 75% of the credits is needed for any baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university.
- Biology will have 8 hours a semester with 2 hours of lab
- Organic Chemistry will have 8 hours a semester with 2 hours of lab
- Physics will have 8 hours a semester with 2 hours of lab
- Inorganic Chemistry will have 8 hours a semester with 2 hours of lab
MCAT Scores:
All applicants must submit the documentation of their MCAT score as well. This needs to be submitted along with the AACOMAS application. Only such a score will be put into consideration which is around 3 years before matriculation.
Along with the application, the applicant has to attach letters of recommendation as well. A maximum of 3 letters of recommendation is needed. 1 letter should be from the physician of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. 2nd letter has to be from a faculty member of the science department, and the third letter has to be from HPAC or any premed advisor.
List of Facilities provided by UIWSOM:
The school is offering some wellness activities for the students in the form of health centres. Their wellness centre has been initiated just to provide the students with a completely healthy environment. Few of the basic wellness activities and centres developed at the UIWSOM are below:
- Siclovia
- Fitness in park
- Brooks City Base
- San Antonio Farmers Markets
- San Antonio Parks & Recreation
- UIW Richard & Janet Cervera Wellness Center
- UIW Ann Barshop Natatorium
Counseling Basic Services:
UIWSOM does know the fact that sometimes medical education can become so stressful and tiring, and it does require some changes in the personality and lifestyle of the individual. To balance all such changes, this medical school has been providing support to all students through their counselling services.
Different types of counselling services provided under UIWSOM are:
- Managing sleeping difficulties
- Grief & loss
- Professional form of identity development
- Relationship with the food, eating & exercise
- Customer conflicts
- Balancing relationships
- Counselling of couples
- Dealing with depression
- Testing anxiety
- Alcohol and the rest of the drug concerns
- Group counselling
- Stress Management
- Individual counselling and support
Housing Service:
UIWSOM is not providing a service based on student housing. Nevertheless, San Antonio is offering some housing options such as condos, houses, or apartments. Incoming students might select the housing, which is based on budget considerations and needs.
Najeeb Lectures:
To better understand the basics of medicine and health sciences, you can take immediate help from Dr Najeeb’s lectures. His lectures do accommodate the students of medicine over various learning styles by addressing a wide range of educational capabilities.
Most of their video lectures are based on medicine and health-related subjects such as pharmacology, genetics, immunology, histology, and pathology. The best thing about his lectures is that they are readily available in the graphical representation and chart illustrations.
