Preparing for the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine interview

San Antonio isn’t just famous for the Alamo, vibrant culture, and breakfast tacos—it’s also a crossroads of urgent healthcare needs, innovative policy battles, and community-driven medicine. As you prepare for your interview at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIW SOM), you must become fluent not only in why you want to study medicine, but also in how you'll use your future DO training to impact South Texas and beyond.

This guide is your high-yield, regionally grounded playbook—packed with insights into the UIW SOM interview process, Texas healthcare policy, current events in and around San Antonio, and the burning social issues shaping your future practice.

1. The UIWSOM Interview: Mission-Driven & Community-Focused

The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) uses a blended interview format emphasizing its Franciscan values and commitment to underserved populations. 

Key details:

• Traditional One-on-One Interviews: 30–45 minute sessions probing your alignment with osteopathic principles (e.g., “How would you address health disparities using OMM?”).

• MMI Stations: 6–8 scenarios testing ethics (e.g., vaccine hesitancy in South Texas), cultural humility, and crisis management.

• Group Activities: Collaborative problem-solving (e.g., designing a mobile clinic for colonias along the Texas-Mexico border).

Themes: Social justice in medicine, interprofessional collaboration, and holistic care for marginalized communities.

Tip: UIWSOM’s motto—“Compassionate Care for the Whole Person”—isn’t just a tagline. Weave stories about serving vulnerable populations into every answer.

2. Texas Healthcare Policy: A Battleground for Equity

1. Medicaid Non-Expansion & Its Fallout

Texas remains one of 10 states rejecting Medicaid expansion under the ACA, leaving 1.4 million uninsured—disproportionately Black and Latino communities. UIWSOM’s Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics partners with San Antonio’s CommuniCare Health Centers to bridge gaps.

2. Rural Hospital Closures & Maternal Deserts

Texas leads the U.S. in rural hospital closures (25 since 2010). In Webb County (Laredo), maternal mortality rates are 87% higher than the state average. UIWSOM’s Rural Health Initiative trains students in tele-OMM for counties like Dimmit, where OB/GYN access is nonexistent.

3. SB 22 (2023): Rural Hospital Rescue

This $3.3B package funds ER stabilization in 58 counties. UIWSOM students rotate at Connally Memorial Medical Center (Medina County), a SB 22 beneficiary facing diabetes epidemics.

Tip: Cite UIWSOM’s Mission Integration courses when discussing policy solutions.

3. Current Events & Social Issues: The Texas Context

Local Flashpoints

• Border Health Crisis: 2024 saw a 200% spike in Valley fever cases among migrants in Eagle Pass. UIWSOM’s Humanitarian Emergency Medicine Elective deploys students to respite centers.

• Abortion Restrictions: Texas’ near-total ban increased maternal ER visits by 45% (UT Austin, 2024). UIWSOM OB/GYN faculty publish on delayed prenatal care in Bexar County.

• Climate Health: San Antonio’s 2023 heatwave caused 412 ER visits for heatstroke. UIWSOM’s Environmental Medicine Track studies urban heat islands in the Westside.

National Issues with Texas Stakes

• Opioid Crisis: Texas received $1.1B from opioid settlements, funding UIWSOM’s Project Vida—a naloxone distribution program in San Antonio’s Eastside.

• Immigrant Health: 23% of Texans are foreign-born. UIWSOM’s International Medicine Program runs free clinics in colonias lacking sewage systems.

Tip: Mention UIWSOM’s Institute for Public Health when addressing systemic challenges.

4. The 5 Questions University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “How does our osteopathic philosophy align with your approach to treating Latino patients in South Texas?”

2. “You’re working in a colonia clinic with no MRI access. How would you diagnose a suspected stroke?”

3. “Describe a time you advocated for someone from a marginalized community.”

4. “Texas has the highest uninsured rate. How should UIWSOM graduates address this?”

5. “How would you integrate OMM into care for a transgender patient facing discrimination?”