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The definition of success describes our next hero, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus, Dr. Paul Saenz. As a double board-certified family and sports medicine physician, his passion for medicine began in his early days as a student and “Osteo-Breaker” in the school’s talent show and has continued throughout his career. Once he graduated from TCOM in 1986, Dr. Saenz moved to Phoenix to complete his family medicine residency and a sports medicine fellowship in Seattle. Upon his return to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas in 1988, he began to blaze his trail in the medical community in his city and beyond.

Dr. Saenz was San Antonio’s first primary care sports medicine specialist and a local school, Dr. Paul S. Saenz Junior High, was named after him. His alma maters, Central Catholic High School, St. Mary’s University, and HSC, have honored him as a distinguished alumnus. Since he began his career, Dr. Saenz’s commitment to service and medicine has continued to shine. In 2015, Dr. Saenz was inducted into the National Hispanic Heritage Hall of Honor for his achievements in athletics and education. Texas Monthly magazine has named him as one of Texas’ “Super Doctors” many times.

Dr. Saenz serves as the team physician for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, the San Antonio Missions Double-A Baseball Club, The University of the Incarnate Word, and several San Antonio area high schools. He also is an associate clinical professor at the University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Osteopathic Medicine and an HSC adjunct faculty member. He is also the founding partner of Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, which is recognized as the pre-eminent provider of orthopedic and athletic medicine services.

Dr. Saenz was appointed to the medical staff for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and for the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City. He served as team physician for USA Pentathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and in 2012, he served as team physician for USA Track and Field at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. When he was appointed as the National Team Physician for USA Basketball, he accompanied the Gold Medal winning team as they participated in Pre-Olympic competitions in Manchester, England, and Barcelona, Spain.

“Dr. Saenz is an outstanding physician who has displayed the highest character and integrity as he advances the field of osteopathic medicine,” HSC President Dr. Michael Williams said. “He lives every day by the decree that service to others is life’s highest calling.”

To help celebrate his legacy and give back to the university that helped launch his career, he established the Paul S Saenz DO Scholarship in Sports Medicine in 2020.  Although Dr. Saenz has a growing list of accomplishments in his field, he is most proud of his wife, Becky, and their children.

Join us throughout 2020 as we celebrate the people, events and innovations that made UNTHSC all it is today — and look ahead to the next 50 years. For the 50th anniversary, team members nominated people whose contributions make them HSC Heroes. Each week, a new Hero will be revealed. View the list of all our Hero profiles published so far this year. There is a new one each week.

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