The best medical schools in San Antonio are all certified medical schools that offer a standard quality of education for four to five years.
There are 3 med schools in San Antonio to choose from. Be sure to check with each of the med schools in San Antonio to determine whether or not you qualify to receive financial aid or in-state tuition.
Choosing a medical school is an important decision, so use this data as one piece of your decision-making process. The right medical school will prepare you to enter into a fulfilling career in medicine, so it’s important to independently research each of these universities and colleges.
So continue reading to know about the best medical schools in San Antonio accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education(LCME).
Best Medical Schools in San Antonio
If you’re looking for a list of the best medical schools in San Antonio, look no further. Click on a school to learn more about it and see the address to know how to get there.
Related: Best Medical schools in New York
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
The Joe R. Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio trains the most doctors in South Texas, and many of them continue to practice medicine in San Antonio and the surrounding area. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education’s (LCME) full accreditation allows the institution to annually teach over 900 students and train 800 residents.
With 850 doctors in more than 100 specialties, the UT Health Physicians practice is San Antonio’s biggest vertically integrated medical group. Due to the close collaboration of top-tier specialists in various fields, this is advantageous for patients. A patient can only witness these specialists working together as a team here, discussing the patient’s condition with one another.
The range of medical services includes the most difficult specialized care, such as liver transplants or the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, all the way down to primary care for maintaining health and preventing disease.
A very successful research organization, led by the Long School of Medicine and UT Health San Antonio, has produced both cutting-edge clinical treatment and fundamental scientific breakthroughs. Leaders in the disciplines of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cancer, aging, and renal disease, to name a few, are developing innovative treatments for these diseases using molecular findings.
Faculty from the School of Medicine frequently publish in the best journals in the country. The only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in Central and South Texas, as well as a National Health Institute-funded aging center and clinical trials center, are all located at UT Health San Antonio.
Because it is demographically representative of the country 20 years from now, San Antonio is an ideal location for testing novel therapeutic therapies.
San Antonio’s significant biosciences and healthcare economic sectors are enriched by the School of Medicine’s clinical, research, and educational affiliations with the University Health System, the military, especially the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and several state and private partners.
The MD/MPH dual degree is offered by UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine and UT Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio. The MD/MPH is designed to prepare students to integrate medical and public health skills as practitioners and researchers.
By combining MD training with an MPH education, students are better prepared to treat individuals and address health issues in communities.
The MD/MPH program is perfect for students interested in global health, community health, clinical research, infectious disease, health promotion, public policy or administration, environmental medicine, and preventative medicine. This is no doubt one of the best medical schools in San Antonio.
Address: 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Phone: +1 210-567-7000
UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine
The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) is the medical school of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. It was opened in 2015 and holds provisional accreditation with the American Osteopathic Association.
The school began the inaugural class in the summer of 2017. Medical graduates of UIW-SOM will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. This is one of the best medical schools in San Antonio.
UIWSOM opened in 2015, as the second osteopathic medical school in the state of Texas, after the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, an academic unit of the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. UIW-SOM is the site of former President John F. Kennedy’s last public speech before his assassination in 1963, making building 1 a historical site.
The campus of UIWSOM is located on 23 acres in south San Antonio, about 20 minutes from the main UIW campus. Formerly the site of the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, and now a registered historic district, the campus is on the northwest corner of the Brooks City Base.
UIWSOM offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine medical degree. In addition, a one-year master’s program is offered: Master in Biomedical Sciences program. The university plans to eventually move its Masters in Nursing and Physical Therapy programs to the Brooks City campus.
Address: 7615 Kennedy Hill Dr, San Antonio, TX 78235, United States
Phone: +1 210-283-6998
Also read: The 3 Best Medical Schools In West Virginia
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions
The Baptist Health System School of Health Professions evolved from a private cluster of health science schools sponsored by the Baptist Health System. VHS San Antonio Partners, LLC, dba Baptist Health System, was a subsidiary of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. In October 2013, the school and Baptist Health System were acquired by Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
The School of Nursing was the first school, chartered in 1903. Surgical Technology followed in 1955, Medical Imaging Technology in 1959, and Vocational Nursing in 1988. In 2009, the first graduates were awarded the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, ushering in a new era for the school.
In 2010, the school was approved to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology and the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology. Also in 2010, the school offered the first fully online courses in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program, followed in 2011 by a second fully online program, Advanced Certificate in Computed Tomography.
The school was approved at the baccalaureate level to offer the RN to BSN in 2012 and the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management in 2013, both of which are fully online.
In 2016, the Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology and the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography were approved for both resident and fully online delivery.
The newest program and the first graduate program, the Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration, was approved for online delivery in 2017.
Baptist Health System has a reputation for graduating highly competent and caring healthcare professionals. Graduates will enter the dynamic healthcare environment at a time when their knowledge and skills are highly valued. This is no doubt one of the best medical schools in San Antonio.
Address: 8400 Datapoint Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Phone: +1 210-297-9636
Types of Medical Schools in San Antonio
There’s no standard when comes to med schools in San Antonio. Med schools in San Antonio fall into a few different categories.
There are traditional schools that train doctors and trade schools that train students for other medical professions, those that focus on classroom lectures and those that offer mainly hands-on instruction, somewhere you complete your education in a matter of years, and others that prepare you for work in just a few months.
By considering these differences and deciding on your preferences, you can find the right medical school for you.
Traditional Schools vs. Trade Schools
Traditional schools are what most people associate with college. Students learn about medicine with an emphasis on science. These schools are often very competitive to enter, especially universities.
Into this category fall schools like the University of Texas School of Medicine, the University of the Incarnate Word (with its proposed School of Osteopathic Medicine), and the Baptist Health System School of Health Professions, which offers associate degrees in health information technology, nursing, radiologic technology, and surgical technology in addition to certificate courses and bachelor’s degrees.
Trade school education, on the other hand, leads to a career in a short time and there is no need to take classes unrelated to your major as there is at universities and community colleges. You can study to become a medical assistant, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding specialist, medical office specialist, and more.
Train for these careers at The College of Health Care Professions, Kaplan College, St. Philip’s College at Alamo Colleges, and Southern Careers Institute.
Related: Best Accredited Medical Schools in New Hampshire
Classroom Learning vs. Hands-on Training
Traditional colleges tend to be lecture-based, involving note-taking, essay writing, and studying in your own time. If you are more of a hands-on person, you may prefer vocational education from a trade school, where the majority of learning is through practical training.
Many programs even include externships, giving you the chance to put your skills into practice and offering valuable experience to highlight when applying for jobs.
Years in School vs. Months in School
Program lengths vary greatly depending on where you study. Certification courses from trade schools can last as little as 40 hours or up to as many as 9 months. An associate’s degree always requires at least two years and a bachelor’s degree at least four years.
However, some medical careers can involve even more education, equaling up to 12 years in school. None of the above characteristics are inherently better than others: it all depends on what you want to gain from your medical career.
If you are looking to become a doctor or nurse and don’t mind spending many years in school, classroom learning at one of the traditional med schools in San Antonio TX could be a good option for you.
However, if you want to begin working as soon as possible in a job that allows you to make a visible difference in the lives of others, studying at a trade school may be a better choice.
Conclusion
This guide aims to help you make the best choice for the best medical schools in San Antonio. Hopefully, you can choose from the best-med schools in San Antonio for you.