Our Community
San Antonio
Imagine living in a place with all the benefits of a large city, but with the advantages of a small-town feel, low cost of living, and space to spread out and relax. That place is San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio, the Alamo City, captures the spirit of Texas. Now ranking as the eighth largest city in the United States, San Antonio has retained a sense of history and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress. The city has always been a crossroads and a meeting place. Sounds, customs and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germany, France, the Wild West and the Deep South mingle and merge. Close to twenty million visitors each year enjoy and discover San Antonio's charms.
Father Antonio Olivares founded the city in 1718, when he established Mission San Antonio de Valero, which became permanently etched in the annals of history in 1836 as the Alamo, where 189 defenders held the old mission against some 4,000 Mexican troops for 13 days.
Today, San Antonio is known as one of America’s most hospitable and most livable cities. Though the population sign reads over two million, the feeling you have is one of “small-town Texas.” Amid the daily hubbub of the busy metropolitan downtown, sequestered 20 feet below street level, lies one of the jewels of Texas—San Antonio’s famous Paseo del Rio. Better known as the River Walk, cobblestone and flagstone paths border both sides of the San Antonio River as it winds its way through the middle of the business district. The River Walk has multiple personalities—quiet and park-like in some stretches, while other areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. The River Walk stretches for approximately two and a half miles ultimately winding its way to the beautiful King William Historic District south of downtown.
A Great Place to Call Home (and you can still afford to buy one!)
San Antonio provides the perfect opportunity for great family life, beginning with the affordable cost of living—indeed, San Antonio maintains the lowest average cost of living of any of the top 10 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. Additionally, the amenities offered by a city the size of San Antonio make living here all the more comfortable. At the San Antonio Children's Museum, kids are encouraged to explore a miniature version of the city. The Magik Theatre provides family-oriented, professional theater in the heart of downtown. The Majestic Theater offers professional stage and music performances, Broadway musicals and the San Antonio Symphony. The Downtown All-Around Playground at HemisFair Park and the newly renovated Milam Park (across from Market Square and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa) provide excellent stops for kids to burn off excess energy. And don't forget the Tower of the Americas, which offers a spectacular view of San Antonio and great dining from 750 feet above the ground. Steps away from the Tower of the Americas is UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio’s experience museum, featuring interactive exhibits and activities for families that celebrate Texas’s multicultural heritage!
Other outstanding options for relaxation and fun include many large public parks and green spaces, including Brackenridge Park, a 433-acre refuge in the heart of the city, The San Antonio Zoo, with a collection of more than 3,000 animals, ranks as one of the best in the country, and the Witte Museum with its associated park and its philosophy of hands-on learning, features exhibits exploring Texas history and science. The McNay Art Museum and the recently opened Smithsonian Institution affiliate Museo Alameda are also local favorites.
San Antonio is also home to two major theme parks—Sea World San Antonio, the world's largest marine life park, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the town built just for fun! Sea World San Antonio combines fun with education and appreciation for some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures through more than 25 shows, educational exhibits and rides. Six Flags Fiesta Texas Theme Park is a nonstop celebration of San Antonio and South Texas.
San Antonio offers a wide variety of spectator sports year-round, including the four-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, the WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars, the International Hockey League San Antonio Rampage and the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team.
The city is also home to five major universities including the University of Texas at San Antonio, Trinity University, the University of the Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s University and Our Lady of the Lake University. The cultural advantages to having this strong college presence can be found throughout the city in the live music scene, outdoor recreation venues and parks, college sports, restaurants, coffee shops and night clubs, and of course, the opportunity for continuing adult education at all levels. Largely because of the progressive scene, affordable cost of living and myriad recreational opportunities, San Antonio also ranks on Forbes Magazine Top 30 Best Cities for Singles. It simply offers a lifestyle that people love.
Job Opportunities and Economic Development
In considering locations in which to pursue residency training, it is important to assess the local environment and economic situation. This is especially true if you have a spouse or family members who may be seeking employment or education during your training. The San Antonio economy continues to grow at a robust pace. The local housing market remains solid and job and educational opportunities for family members abound. This dynamic and diverse economy is a healthy mix of business services, with a rapidly growing biomedical and biotechnology sector, and a diversified manufacturing sector, producing everything from aircraft and semiconductors to Toyota Tundra trucks. Public and private education, and the US Army and Air Force, also remain top employment sectors in San Antonio.
San Antonio's largest private employers include: United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a worldwide insurance and diversified financial services association; H-E-B Grocery Company, the largest private grocery company with stores in Texas and Mexico; AT&T World Headquarters, and Toyota's sixth North American assembly plant, now the largest domestic producer of light and utility trucks in America. The greater San Antonio area has 13 Independent School Districts, most paying above the state average for teacher’s salaries, providing ample employment opportunities for teachers and those in education.
Your Future in San Antonio
Many people who have the chance to move here fall in love with San Antonio. For that reason you may be interested in knowing what opportunities exist for you here after you complete your residency. There is an overwhelming demand for well-trained family physicians in the greater San Antonio area as the regional economy expands at a record pace.
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa will open a beautiful new full service acute care hospital in the Westover Hills region of the city, one of Texas’ fastest growing corridors. CHRISTUS has also recently purchased McKenna Memorial Hospital in New Braunfels, situated between San Antonio and Austin, currently experiencing unbounded growth. Because of our reputation for excellence, our graduates are highly sought after by physicians, medical groups and hospital systems throughout the area. Several of our graduates have chosen to enter private practice locally and find their practices full very soon after opening. It can not be overstated how strong your opportunities are for a fulfilling, thriving medical practice here in the Alamo City, should you choose to make it your home. As a faculty, helping you during this transition is a part of our mission. We will provide expertise, support and guidance.