UIWSOM Preceptors Uplift Aspiring Healthcare Professionals
At the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM), professors dedicated themselves to uplifting, educating and preparing the next generation of physicians. Through its rigorous curriculum and hands-on learning experiences, the school strives to empower the medical education community to achieve academic, professional and personal success and develop a commitment to lifelong learning. But UIWSOM students also receive ample and critical support beyond the Nest.
UIWSOM is proud to have a large and growing community of preceptors made up of practicing doctors of various specialties. The preceptors have chosen to mentor students by welcoming them to shadow and train under their guidance, often at their own offices and clinics. These mentorships allow students the opportunity to better understand and approach the needs of the communities they will one day serve.
Dr. Ray Altamirano, owner and primary doctor at Casa Salud Family Medicine Clinic, is one of UIWSOM’s preceptors. Casa Salud upholds its medical mission “to provide quality, trustworthy healthcare to patients without health insurance at a predictable and reasonable cost” (CasaSalude210.com).
“Casa Salud is a service more than a business,” said Altamirano. “I practice cost-conscious medicine and declare myself an expert in this field as none of my patients have insurance. Academia teaches us the newest treatment guidelines and evidence-based options for practicing medicine. The reality of what that actually costs for uninsured patients is the bottleneck of my patient demographic. When the best treatment is not an option, we rely on education and building relationships and trust that will improve their health for the long term.”
Altamirano became a preceptor with UIWSOM in 2022, inspired to demonstrate to third year medical students the importance of staying true to the calling of medicine and not fixating on financial gain or profits. At Casa Salud, he hopes to teach students to always treat those in need as people before patients. In his 20 years in practice, he has found that doctors who take the time to bring themselves “eye-level” with their patients and prioritize speaking to them rather than at them garner effective relationships that improve outcomes.
“The most rewarding part of being a UIW preceptor is seeing local home-grown students from these same neighborhoods studying to become physicians,” shared Altamirano. “This is what the city needs. They are the next community doctors who will work the front line of healthcare and go above and beyond for the less fortunate.”
Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, board certified vascular surgeon and founder of the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic (SAVE Clinic), is another of UIWSOM’s proud preceptors. Ochoa, who has been a practicing surgeon since 20l1, found during her career that the “number of diabetes-related amputations in San Antonio occurred in rates up to three times the statewide rate in some of the city’s most underserved and socioeconomically challenged zip codes” (TheSaveClinic.com). Recognizing the influence of community collaboration, Ochoa partnered with multiple healthcare, education and city organizations to develop amputation prevention programs.
“When I started the SAVE Clinic, I knew I wanted to do more than just treat vascular disease,” said Ochoa. “I wanted to prevent amputations and improve overall health outcomes for people in South San Antonio. By combining advanced vascular treatments with patient education, preventative care and collaboration with other healthcare providers, we’re making a real impact. We’ve helped patients avoid unnecessary amputations, improve their circulation and take control of their health. Beyond that, I’ve worked to bring together hospitals, nonprofits, and city leaders to tackle the larger health disparities in our community.”
Having served as a UIWSOM preceptor for several years, she has enjoyed overseeing students who are eager to learn about the complexities of vascular diseases, how to diagnose them and the practice of vascular surgery. Working with students allows her to pass on not just her surgical skills, but also the importance of patient advocacy, early intervention and working within a healthcare team to provide the best care possible for patients as a whole.
“Seeing a student go from being unsure of a diagnosis to confidently recommending a treatment plan is amazing,” noted Ochoa. “Even better is when they leave inspired to continue working in underserved communities, knowing they can make a real difference.”
As supportive and generous as preceptors are for UIWSOM students, the learners are just as appreciative of their experiences alongside their mentors:
“Currently, I have the privilege of working alongside Dr. James Humphreys, a surgical pathologist at Precision Pathology,” shared Denise Nemeth, fourth year medical student. “As an aspiring surgical oncologist, I recognize how crucial it is to understand pathology procedures and nuances to optimize patient care. This experience has been truly invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for the selfless dedication of preceptors like Dr. Humphreys. It is because of mentors like him that students like me are able to thrive and continue on the path to becoming skilled and compassionate physicians.”
“My preceptor, Dr. Leticia Vargas, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with over 15 years of unwavering commitment to women’s health,” shared Thomas Fonseca, Jr., fourth year medical student and U.S. Air Force second lieutenant. “While working alongside her in the labor and delivery unit at Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, I not only helped in caring for her patients but also had the invaluable opportunity to assist in multiple deliveries, both natural and C-section – an experience every medical student hopes for and one I will always remember.”
In a special show of gratitude to the preceptors who dedicate their time and talents to providing learning opportunities for its students, UIWSOM recently hosted an event to recognize and thank them. Students and preceptors gathered for an evening of meaningful conversations and heartfelt displays of appreciation. Each preceptor departed with a gift as a token of the institution's appreciation for going above and beyond to improve patient outcomes by mentoring UIWSOM’s soon-to-be physicians.