The UC Riverside School of Medicine has named Michelle Anne Bholat, MD, MPH as the new chair of the Department of Family Medicine. She will begin the position on November 15, 2024.

Bholat comes to the UCR SOM from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, where she has had a long, distinguished career. She most recently served as the executive vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Family Medicine and vice chair of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). She is the co-founder and executive director of the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program and has served to create or expand several ACGME programs in family medicine and addiction medicine. From 2014 to 2021, she was the executive vice chair of the UCLA Department of Family Medicine.

Bholat has also served as a public health commissioner to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, fourth district. She was a member of the Joint Commission’s Bureau of Primary Health Care. She is an elected official of the Beach Cities Health District, a community-based organization focused on preventive health. She is a two-time appointee to the Medical Board of California, including a 2022 appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Additionally, she has served as site director and principal investigator for grants focused on expanding a diverse workforce, addressing chronic conditions as well as clinical trials related to substance abuse; she is board eligible in Addiction Medicine. Finally, she is a former fellow of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and active member of NHMA's California chapter.

“Michelle Bholat’s extensive experience in family medicine, commitment to public health, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as continuous quality improvement match well with the values of the UCR School of Medicine,” said Deborah Deas, MD, MPH, the vice chancellor for Health Sciences and Mark and Pam Rubin dean of the School of Medicine. “I believe she is a fantastic choice to help continue the growth of our Department of Family Medicine and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”

Bholat graduated with her MD degree from the UC Irvine School of Medicine and completed her residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She added a master of public health degree from UCLA in health policy and management.

She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Society of Hospital Medicine, and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.