CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System Makes Second Largest Commitment in UIW Athletics History

May 21, 2019

SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) athletics department is proud to announce that CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System will provide the Cardinals with the second largest commitment in program history.

The commitment, which is the second agreement between the Cardinals and CHRISTUS during the 2018-19 academic year, will provide unrestricted resources that will be used to enhance the student-athlete experience at UIW. The first commitment funded the installation of a new volleyball/basketball court named CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System Court (CHRISTUS Court). It is scheduled to be completed June 15.

“CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is about people,” said Dr. Brian Wickstrom, director of athletics. “In my first interactions with CHRISTUS President and CEO Dean Alexander and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Davis, they talked about their commitment to the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System Court and it became obvious to me that our two organizations shared the same values and beliefs. When we asked for this support of our overall athletics program, they didn’t hesitate in saying yes. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a Cardinal.”   

“The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) has thrived under the leadership of Dr. Tom Evans and UIW Athletics has expanded its footprint throughout the San Antonio community in Dr. Brian Wickstrom’s short time there,” said Alexander. “Our commitment strengthens the importance of the work the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word began in 1869. This partnership will allow Christus Santa Rosa to continue growing and will help UIW Athletics compete for more NCAA Division I championships.”

Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic, faith-based, nonprofit health and wellness ministry dedicated to “extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ” and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. Since its founding, the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System has grown to five full-service hospitals with 1,159 licensed beds, and a number of specialty centers.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a ministry of CHRISTUS Health, a Catholic, not-for-profit system made up of more than 60 hospitals, and over 600 centers, including long-term care facilities, community hospitals, walk-in clinics and health ministries in the United States, Mexico, Columbia and Chile.

For 150 years, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word have served communities all over the world through a variety of ministries. Both UIW and CHRISTUS are proud to be among the Sisters’ global ministries and are the two largest of the Sisters’ U.S. ministries.

Founded by the Sisters in 1881, UIW currently serves over 10,000 students at locations throughout Texas, two campuses in Mexico, and Study Centers in Heidelberg, Germany and Strasbourg, France. In addition to undergraduate programs, UIW also offers graduate and doctoral programs in nursing, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy and osteopathic medicine.

“The partnership between UIW and CHRISTUS is a natural fit allowing both to collaborate and work to continue the Mission of the Sisters,” said UIW Sister Kathleen Coughlin, CCVI.

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Media Contacts:

  • Cari Gold, Assistant Athletics Director of Media Relations, (210) 829-6041or cgold@uiwtx.edu
  • Michael Valdes, Media and Public Relations Manager, Office of Communications & Brand Marketing, (210) 829-6001 or michael.valdes@uiwtx.edu