SOM staff (pictured L-R) Dr. Ramona Parker, assistant dean for medical and inter-professional education; Mary Teal, executive administrative assistant to the dean; Andrea Cyterski Acosta, associate dean of admissions; Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, associate dean for social accountability; Dr. Sophia Pina, associate dean for student affairs; Dr. Kevin Lord, chair of applied biomedical sciences; Dr. Corinne Jedynak-Bell, associate dean for clinical and administrative affairs; Dr. Robyn Phillips-Madson, founding dean; Dr. Sharon Gustowski, chair of the Department of Osteopathic Principles, Practices, and Integration; and Dr. Thomas Mohr, associate dean for graduate medical education.
The University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) has attained an important milestone, pre-accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
Pre-accreditation is the initial recognition status awarded by COCA; it is an integral step towards UIW’s goal of establishing a School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) by providing physicians to serve the growing communities of San Antonio and South Texas.
The SOM team is now preparing for the next step in this process. Provisional accreditation is required in order to recruit students. The anticipated start date for the inaugural class is the summer of 2017.
“Building a new medical school requires sustained commitment and dedication on the part of so many, and we’re very grateful for our partners in this endeavor. We’re confident that the development of this osteopathic medical school will result in many positive outcomes, and will constructively impact the health of the communities we serve for generations to come,” said SOM Founding Dean Dr. Robyn Madson.
In addition, city and business leaders gathered on July 30 to celebrate a new $9.1 million road construction project at Brooks City Base, future home of the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine. The project will widen and upgrade Dale Erwin Drive, helping to accommodate those attending UIW’s medical school. Rebecca Viagran, District 3 city councilwoman, led the groundbreaking for the roadway, which will be renamed Kennedy Hill in honor of President John F. Kennedy. In his last official act as president, Kennedy dedicated the buildings at Brooks City Base that will now be used by UIW.
