UCSF FRESNO LAUNCHES NEW, INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

WHO:               

Seven medical students from diverse backgrounds, including three with ties to the San Joaquin Valley, are set to take part in a new and innovative UCSF Fresno clinical training program called “Model Madres.” Valley students participating in the program include Jaime Antuna of Mendota, Cynthia Zamora from Merced, and Nima Fayazmanesh, who was raised in Clovis.

WHAT:           

A reception will be held to welcome the medical students to the community where they will care for patients.

WHERE:         

UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Education and Research, Room 137, 155 N. Fresno St., Fresno

WHEN:           

5 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 2008

WHY:             

Key leaders at UCSF Fresno redesigned the traditional clerkship training of third-year medical students to attract additional students to Fresno and to provide patients with integrated health care. Attracting medical students to the area is especially important because statistics show that physicians are likely to practice near where they attended medical school and/or conducted residency training.

UCSF Fresno is a leader in innovative educational design of medical student training programs and will be a key partner in the training of medical students at the proposed UC Merced medical school.

Background:

Model Madres” is a unique and newly-designed learning pathway in Fresno for third-year medical students from the UCSF School of Medicine. The pilot program offers students a unique aspect to their training by blending together three distinct areas of medicine – maternal, child, and family health. For six months, the students will work in small groups focusing on a team approach to learning. Participating in “Model Madres” will help students feel comfortable and be competent in caring for patients in an integrated manner. The students will begin their training in July 2008 at Community Regional Medical Center and various health clinics on the University Medical Center campus in Fresno.

The Fresno Regional Foundation is a major sponsor of medical student education at UCSF Fresno.

For more information, please contact Kasan Jones, program manager with the UCSF Fresno Office of Undergraduate Medical Education at (559) 499-6523 or email [email protected]