A Community-Based Medical School for the 21st Century
The UC Riverside School of Medicine held its tenth Commencement and Hippocratic Oath Ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026 at the UCR Student Recreation Center. The event marked the SOM’s first unified, shared commencement across degree programs, with 78 Doctor of Medicine (MD) students, 34 Master of Biomedical Sciences (MS)...
As an emergency medical technician (EMT) from 2017 through 2019, Andrew Huang routinely saw seizures as one of his most common calls. He treated several patients in car accidents only to be dispatched to their houses a week later when they had a seizure; other calls were for patients hit...
When a child received a diagnosis for a cardiac issue on one of her pediatrics rotations, Helen Setaghiyan knew exactly what to do. “I ended up talking to the mom about how I received an unexpected diagnosis and the challenges I faced, and how my family navigated that situation,” recalled...
When Andrew McLain started at the UC Riverside School of Medicine in 2020, he was sure of one thing: He did not want to specialize in emergency medicine. For the former emergency medical technician (EMT), “I initially told myself I wasn't going to do emergency medicine because as an EMT...
After studying microbiology in college in Arizona, Jennell Jennett considered becoming a doctor. Yet while working in a primary care office after earning her bachelor’s degree, she soon understood that it wasn’t her ideal career choice. “I realized direct patient care maybe wasn't for me,” recalled Jennett, who will graduate...
Alicia Junker knew she wanted to focus on veterans health for her Master of Public Health (MPH) thesis at the UC Riverside School of Medicine. But initially, Junker, a member of the MPH program’s inaugural class of 2026, had trouble choosing a specific topic. In memory of a friend and...
During one of his pediatrics rotations in medical school, Javier Prieto encountered a young patient with a tumor growing in his kidney. “His relatives had already had kidney problems, so hearing that his kidney would be taken out caused fear within his family,” recalled Prieto, who will graduate from the...
View Behavioral Health (VBH), a southern California-based behavioral health organization, announces the completion of View Behavioral Health Colton Children’s (VBHCC), a new 52-bed inpatient Psychiatric Health Facility for children and adolescents. VBHCC is the largest facility of its kind in the Inland Empire and will more than double the region’s...
During a recent career day at a local high school, second-year UC Riverside medical student Leonardo Padilla stood in a classroom with an ultrasound probe in hand, surrounded by students staring in wonder at the image of the inside of the body appearing on the screen in front of them...
After a recent presentation on lung cancer at a high school, a teacher approached UC Riverside School of Medicine student Vjola Haka in tears. "She told me, 'Thank you so much for talking about this topic. I actually just had breast cancer, and seeing how passionate you guys are and...
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Denise Martinez, MD, has been selected to participate in the 32nd cohort of The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) at the Drexel University College of Medicine. Martinez is one of 99 ELAM fellows from 108 institutions across the country...
On Friday, the UC Riverside School of Medicine hosted the inaugural UC Summit on Methamphetamine. The daylong event provided a space for leaders in addiction medicine, faculty from UC campuses, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and more to come together to address the increasing impact of methamphetamine use across California. The summit...
The UC Riverside School of Medicine presented its annual Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards at a dinner on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the UCR Alumni and Visitors Center. Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education Pablo Joo, MD, was the host of the event. Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and...
As federal research funding becomes more competitive, investigators face increasing pressure to present strong preliminary data to secure major extramural grants. However, generating this data often requires significant time, coordination, and financial resources. Without early support, promising ideas may struggle to move past the conceptual stage. To help bridge this...
On Saturday, the UC Riverside School of Medicine welcomed the community to campus for Open House 2026. Held from 10 am until 2 pm, the annual event showcased the SOM and illuminated the path to pursuing a career in medical fields. Despite the possibility of rain, over 1,000 people attended...
Clinical research is a key component of academic medicine, but it can be challenging for early-career physicians to find the time and resources to conduct that work. A new program at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, funded by a $550,000 grant from the University of California Office of the...
Every evening, when Doan Khong, MD, came home from his family practice in a medically underserved neighborhood in San Francisco, he brought his work with him. He described his patients, his days, and his purpose. His four daughters listened. “I don't ever remember hearing him complain about seeing patients,” recalled...
An exhibition at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California in Riverside celebrates the UC Riverside School of Medicine’s PRIME African, Black, and Caribbean Exhibit and the Black physicians who have worked to shape healthcare in the Inland Empire. The institute held a grand opening reception on Thursday, March...
I’m pleased to share the latest update on the UCR School of Medicine’s ambitious and exciting curricular enhancement initiative. As you know, since 2025 we’ve been working diligently to re-imagine our curriculum to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead and to ensure our students are not only prepared for today’s...
Medical students across the nation waited with anticipation on Friday morning to learn where they would spend the next few years of their medical training. At the UCR School of Medicine’s Match Day event, students gathered with their family members and friends to celebrate the news. See the photos taken...
