Page 22 - Layout 1

MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

The New Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the
University of the Incarnate Word,
School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM):

Dr. John T. Pham

D r. John T. Pham is the new Dean and Chief Academic Offi- sion for education and mentoring to the University of the Incarnate

cer of the University of the Incarnate Word School of Os-
Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) as Dean.
“Where will our next generation of doctors come from if we do not lead
teopathic Medicine (UIWSOM), he started his deanship
in June 2022. He formerly served as Vice Dean of Western University by example? Mentoring and being mentored is a gift. Observing physicians
of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in practice gives premedical and medical students a sense of the rigors of
Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon. medicine – the day to day realities of caring for patient after patient, ad-
“I am excited to get a chance to be a part of a very talented team who ministering medical records, consulting with other health professionals and
will oversee the growth and expansion of UIWSOM not just now, but in managing support staff. These are all factors that are critical in fostering
the years to come. We are located in the heart of a medically underserved those who will follow in our footsteps.”
area of San Antonio, on the Southeast side and as we grow, so will the At UIWSOM, Dr. Pham leads a community that is committed to
services we can provide to this community and the surrounding rural improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global
areas. This will be a great opportunity for our students to live the Mission communities. UIWSOM brings together world-class researchers and
of the University of the Incarnate and our founders, The Sisters of Charity faculty from diverse health-related fields to train our future osteo-
of the Incarnate Word… to get out in the community and serve those who pathic physicians.
need it the most.” Says Dr. Pham. The curriculum at UIWSOM is forward-thinking and distinctive.
As a child, Dr. Pham settled in Portland, Oregon with his parent and UIWSOM graduates complete medical school with the tools to effec-
younger brother after emigrating from Vietnam in 1975. He is the eld- tively communicate with patients, diagnose, treat diseases and lead with
est of three sons and the first in his family to attend medical school. compassion and empathy.
He graduated with his Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, from Ore- UIWSOM’s mission is to empower all members of the medical edu-
gon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. After graduating from Oregon cation community to achieve academic, professional and personal suc-
State University, he left the state for the first time since arriving in Ore- cess and develop a commitment to lifelong learning through excellence
gon to attend medical school at Des Moines University in Iowa. Dr. in learner-centered, patient-focused education, justice-based research,
Pham completed his residency in family medicine at the East Moreland and meaningful partnerships of osteopathic clinical service across the
Hospital. spectrum of undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education.
After graduating from residency, his ambition and motivation to give The development and application of osteopathic principles of medicine
back to his community were embedded in his fiber. He became an en- across four years of physician training will promote culturally, linguistically
trepreneur and opened a solo practice clinic in Portland, where he prac- and community responsive care for all patients to enhance patient safety
ticed for almost ten years before joining Western University and improve patient outcomes are core principles of our mission.
COMP-Northwest in 2011. Being fluent in Vietnamese, Dr. Pham’s The UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine operates four state-of-
practice served many first- and second-generation Vietnamese. the-art facilities on the UIW Medical Campus at Brooks on San An-
Throughout his time in private practice, he mentored countless numbers tonio’s southeast side. These buildings formerly comprised the U.S. Air
of medical students and pre-med students at his clinic. Force School of Aerospace Medicine. In total, the buildings consist of
Dr. Pham has been recognized for mentoring both locally and na- approximately 155,000 square feet of educational and administrative
tionally. These acknowledgments have earned him D.O. of the Year from space on 16 acres.
the State Association in 2010 and Mentor of the Year from the AOA UIWSOM currently has 661 learners and is preparing for its third grad-
in 2007. His love of teaching led him to Western University COMP- uation. They are also now accepting students for their 7th academic year.
Northwest, where he began educating as an Assistant Professor of Family
Medicine for the inaugural class in 2011. When the opportunity arose Dr. John T. Pham, Dean and Chief Academic Office at the University of
for him to give back to the community and train future compassionate the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM).
and competent physicians, he did not hesitate. He now brings his pas-

22 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • December 2022