FRESNO - UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program will celebrate 40 years of training physicians for the San Joaquin Valley at its biennial fundraiser “Valley Visions.” The event will be held on Saturday, April 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Fresno Convention Center New Exhibit Hall, located at 848 M Street in downtown Fresno. Hundreds of physicians, other health care professionals and community leaders are expected to attend. Since it was established as a regional campus of UCSF in 1975, UCSF Fresno has trained approximately 3,000 physicians. Up to 40 percent of them stay in the San Joaquin Valley to provide medical care for community members.
“UCSF Fresno has grown significantly over the past four decades,” said Michael W. Peterson, MD, interim associate dean and chief of medicine at UCSF Fresno. “Today, we are the San Joaquin Valley’s largest physician training program. Currently, we train about 600 physicians and future physicians through all of our medical education programs every year, right here in Fresno.”
Growth at UCSF Fresno since 1975:
- The number of core faculty at UCSF Fresno increased from 1 to 230
- The number of medical residents and fellows trained on an annual basis rose from 102 to 300
- Seventeen fellowship programs were established
The number of medical students that conduct clinical rotations at UCSF Fresno increased from 186 in 2003 to more than 300 currently.
Since 1998, UCSF Fresno has attracted more than $85 million in research, public service and training grants and contracts.
“Our progress and success is a result of the hard work and dedication of our partners, donors, faculty and staff,” added Dr. Peterson. “Valley Visions is a celebration of them as much as it is recognition of our 40th anniversary. We look forward to continue working collaboratively well into the future.
Working together is the most effective way to move forward our missions of providing medical education, clinical care and medical research to improve health and health care in the region.”
The 5th Valley Visions will honor UCSF Fresno’s ruby anniversary with premium food and beverage tastings from local culinary artisans, wineries and breweries. A sit-down dinner also will be served, followed by live music and dancing. In addition, the event will include a silent auction featuring fabulous vacation packages, autographed sports and celebrity memorabilia, designer fashions and jewelry, dinners at outstanding restaurants and much more.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit UCSF Fresno’s many medical education programs.
