The UC Riverside School of Medicine welcomed the community on Saturday to Open House 2025, an annual on-campus event that invites attendees to learn about the school and the path to pursuing a medical career.
This year’s event drew a record attendance of over 1,200 guests, including students of all ages, current medical school applicants, recently admitted SOM students, and their families.
One recent college graduate from Anaheim, Anita Mohajeri, came to learn more about the SOM with the hope of applying next year. “I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit the Open House, to meet people who are interested in the same things that I am, and are like-minded in treating the same population that I would like to in the future,” said Mohajeri, adding that her goals align with the SOM’s mission of improving health for underserved populations in the area. “So I gave it a shot and I came and I’ve been enjoying it.”
“It’s been quite amazing to see so many excited people from the community, and the range from little kids to parents to grandparents,” said Danny Teraguchi, EdD, executive associate dean for Student Affairs. With the SOM hosting a dinner for the incoming class of 2029 following Open House, the first time the two events have been held together, Teraguchi explained that the Open House portion provided a chance for students’ families to learn about the medical school process.
“Today was for the entire family to come and be able to see what their medical student’s getting into and be able to support them throughout medical school,” Teraguchi said. “We tried to make sure it’s a family event, because we know it takes a village and all the family to get to medical school,” he continued. “Then the dinner tonight is really to highlight why we stand out and why students should choose our medical school, from our innovative curriculum to research opportunities to the support that they’ll get there.”
Teraguchi added that Open House offered a unique opportunity for students of all ages to visualize themselves in medical school and feel encouraged to apply. “Many people don’t get to enter a building to see themselves pursuing medical school,” he said. “Being with medical students, seeing themselves in this space; you can’t do it online, you have to be there.”
The daylong event included biomedical and medical student panels, tours of the Center for Simulated Patient Care, CPR demonstrations, and faculty presentations along with opportunities to meet faculty members and Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Mark and Pam Rubin Dean Deborah Deas, MD, MPH.
“It surprised me how open Dean Deas was to talking with and meeting with everyone, as well as the other faculty,” said Arjun Anumuoa, a prospective SOM student from San Diego whose experience working with immigrant populations drew him to the SOM’s mission. “The faculty and staff and all the administrative aspects of the School of Medicine were so supportive and accommodating to prospective students, it really made the impression to me that they really do care.”
The Center for Simulated Patient Care was a popular part of Open House, with the day’s tour schedule filling up less than two hours into the event.
Maryam Azizadah, an incoming student to the SOM class of 2029 from Orange County, toured the center with her parents. “I think it’s amazing that it gives students that opportunity to really practice their clinical skills before they get into rotations so that they feel prepared and not just thrust into a new situation,” Azizadah said.
Her mother, Parwana Azizadah, particularly enjoyed seeing the center’s mannequins and lifelike actions, including blinking. “They looked really real,” she said. “I’m so happy that my daughter will have so much experience over there.”
