University of the Incarnate Word eyes $50M medical school in San Antonio

[TexasTowelie]

--San Antonio, Texas--

The University of the Incarnate Word on Friday moved one step closer to developing what President Louis Agnese Jr. described as the institution's “crown jewel,” a medical school that could open as early as August 2016.

http://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/UIW-eyes-50M-medical-school-4587997.php



The University of the Incarnate Word is considering four locations for a possible osteopathic medical school and on Friday its trustees voted to spend $2.5 million on a feasibility study for it.

Such a school would be the university's “crown jewel,” said UIW President Louis Agnese Jr.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UIW-eyes-50-million-medical-school-4588007.php

In the past eight years, UIW has created new schools of pharmacy, optometry and physical therapy. It has long had a nursing school and also has programs in nutrition and health administration.

“We have them all, except the medical school piece,” Agnese said. “But the medical school piece is coming.”

UIW reached a record-high enrollment of about 9,200 students in fall 2012 and nearly a quarter of them were in the school's 12 health-related academic programs.

A medical school could enroll between 60 and 80 students per year, Agnese said. It could grant doctorates in medicine or osteopathic medicine — both are four-year programs.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UIW-eyes-opening-med-school-4121252.php

[font color=green]UIW is considering whether to offer MD or DO programs. The University of North Texas' Health Science Center in Fort Worth is the only university in Texas with a DO program.

The UT System is also expanding its efforts to offer medical education programs in the Rio Grande Valley coordinated by the UTHSC in San Antonio and also in Austin through the University of Texas. These programs should hopefully alleviate issues with physician shortages that are vital to meeting national and local health care needs as millions of Americans gain access to care through health insurance reform.

Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UIW-eyes-opening-med-school-4121252.php

[Buzz Clik]

1. Offer some wisdom, Towelie. This University is growing like crazy.

Is it a decent college or some Texas version of Bob Jones?

[Ilsa]

2. It's decent. Yes, it's religious, but based on the folks

I've met that matriculated, it's a solid curriculum, not anti-science. I've never heard of them teaching bizarro history or science.

As weird as Waco Texas and Baylor is, I was told 15 years ago that most of the religion teachers were heretics (familiarity bred contempt). Of course, the wackadoodles are the ones in the media. But personally, I don't see a Baylor degree as any more special than the land grant universities in Texas. It's just a helluva lot more expensive.

I hope they are successful in creating a rigorous medical program. Texas is huge and growing. We need more doctors.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Yes, UIW is a respectable university.

I only visited the campus once during my senior year in college to attend a basketball game when my alma mater was in the same athletic conference. The university is affiliated with the Catholic church and its charter dates back to 1881, so it isn't a prop for the extremists such as Oral Roberts or Bob Jones.

[Hestia]

4. Hmm...this same church is wanting to open an osteopathic college in Batesville, Ark.

a blend of private and public funds.