A photo of the ribbon cutting for the UCR School of Medicine Education Building II captured the moment the building officially opened, but for Vladimir Oge, MPH, director of Strategic Initiatives (SI) at the SOM, the shot signifies much more. “That I contributed to something that truly is going to...

The UCR School of Medicine recently announced the 2025 winners of the Dean's Postdoc to Faculty Program Award. The award aims to support emerging principal investigators at the UCR SOM with the goal of developing independent academic researchers. Specifically, the award provides up to 50% of each winner’s salary for...

On Friday, the UCR School of Medicine held the Health Matters Forum Watch Party at the SOM Education Building II. Hosted by Michelle C. Burroughs, DHA, MPH, director of community engagement and outreach at the UCR SOM Center for Healthy Communities, the event welcomed individuals at UCR and interested members...

During an appointment several years ago, a longtime patient and Mexican immigrant told Adolfo Aguilera, MD, that she had recently become an American citizen but was unsure whether she wanted to vote. “I told her it's important to vote, that this is part of being a citizen of the United...

On November 7, 2025, leading candidates for California governor will meet for a forum hosted by UC Riverside to discuss health care challenges faced by state voters. The event, titled “ Health Matters: A Conversation with California’s Next Governor,” is a nonpartisan forum organized by 11 California health-focused advocacy organizations...

For residents of the Imperial Valley living with asthma, there may be a surprising cause: dust from the nearby Salton Sea. David Lo, MD, PhD, distinguished professor in the Division of Biomedical Sciences at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, has focused on the local environmental issue in his recent...

On Monday, Oct. 13, the School of Medicine hosted the inaugural “All Research Cores Symposium,” which brought together representatives from across the campus showcasing the state-of-the-art equipment and research services available across the UCR campus. More than 110 attendees, including STEM high school students, attended the event. Exhibitions included "space...

Brandon Brown, PhD, a professor in the Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, has been conducting numerous community partnered research projects focused on HIV and the ethics of participant payment. Noting multiple barriers to community involvement as part of the research...

On Saturday, October 4, the UCR School of Medicine held its 2025 Celebration of Medical Education Gala. The annual event, which was attended by 352 people, raised nearly $193,000 for the school’s Mission Award Scholarship to support medical students who commit to practicing in the underserved local region. See a...

A community open house at the new School-Linked Trauma-Informed Program (STAR Program) in Riverside celebrated the grand opening of a new community hub for child and adolescent behavioral health sciences. The STAR Program will provide trauma-informed, school-linked therapy for children, youth, and families, while also housing a program that is...

While studying for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, UCR School of Medicine student Daniel Vasquez found himself plateauing on practice tests with a score just below the passing range. So, he made an appointment with Christina M. Granillo, PhD, director of the Office of Academic Success...

A UCR School of Medicine delegation traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Rally for Medical Research on September 18, 2025. The UCR delegation was part of more than 400 researchers and experts who visited congressional offices to advocate for sustained investment in medical research. The UCR SOM delegation...

Recent student research projects at the UCR School of Medicine have investigated nationwide trends in contraceptive use, the link between blood pressure medications and pre-cancerous skin conditions, the development of Alzheimer's disease among patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in minority communities, and more. The common element? The projects rely...

Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD, MPH, MPP (Calif.-25), a founding faculty member of the UCR School of Medicine who created the Future Physician Leaders Pathway Program, has been named one of five recipients of the 2025 AAMC ACE Award for Advocacy, Collaboration, and Education. The award recognizes individuals who partner with...

The UCR School of Medicine on Wednesday hosted the 2025 Celebration of Women in Medicine and Science, an annual event that recognizes women's advancements in those fields. This year's event featured Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, dean of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine and founding...

For Lisa R. Fortuna, MD, MPH, MDiv, a love of working with children and helping them transition successfully to adulthood initially drew her to specialize in pediatrics. Yet she soon noticed that young people were at a particularly critical stage of their lives regarding their mental health. “Even though it's...

When CJ Lee, chief strategy officer for UC Riverside Health, decided to attend UCR for his bachelor’s degree decades ago, he didn’t realize the decision would shape his entire career in healthcare. With his choice at that time between UC Berkeley and UCR for business school, the Northern California native...

The UC Riverside School of Medicine welcomed 91 medical students and five biomedical sciences students at the annual White Coat Ceremony at the Student Recreation Center on Friday, August 8, 2025. This was the 13th White Coat Ceremony in the school's history and the culmination of five days of orientation...

While returning to UC Riverside to serve as the keynote speaker for the 2024 graduation ceremony, UCR alumnus Peter Igarashi, MD, paused to reflect on his experiences as a student in the Division of Biomedical Sciences at UCR, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Igarashi, who grew up in...

A few years ago, the UCR Health - La Quinta pediatrics clinic was just an idea on a piece of paper. For Steve Reyes, PhD, the strategic planning and project manager in the UCR School of Medicine Department of Strategic Initiatives, helping such ideas become reality is a favorite part...