UC Davis School of Medicine

09/24/2025

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Convergence Research Award. This award, offered by the School of Medicine and the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center, supports interdisciplinary teams led by School of Medicine faculty and researchers from at least one other UC Davis school or college. Each team receives up to $50,000 to help prepare their projects for future extramural funding.

Joshua Fenton, professor and vice chair of research for the Department of Family and Community Medicine, will refine an AI tool that helps improve physician communication. His team includes SOM faculty from the Departments of Internal Medicine and Public Health Sciences and the College of Engineering.

William Ridgway, professor of medicine, will modify wheat in a way that reduces the risk of it triggering celiac disease. Ridgway will work with colleagues in the Department of Internal Medicine and from the College of Biological Sciences.

Pranav Shetty, assistant professor of emergency medicine, will develop a predictive model for influenza-like illness and gastrointestinal illness surge events. His co-principal investigator is from the College of Engineering.

Jie Zheng, assistant professor of neurological surgery, will investigate the behavioral and neural biomarkers for real-world autistic social behaviors. Zheng will collaborate with faculty from the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology and Neurological Surgery as well as the College of Engineering.

09/17/2025

09/16/2025

Please join us virtually on Saturday, September 27th, at 10 a.m., for our annual Body Donation Service of Gratitude event.

Each year, the second-year medical students organize a Service of Gratitude to honor the donors of the past year and show their appreciation to the families of the donors.

The service generally includes a secular vigil and dedication ceremony, speakers from the medical school, and informal opportunities for families of donors to speak with medical students. Families of donors who have died in the year prior to the service of gratitude are invited to attend. However, all families and friends of individuals who have donated themselves to the program are welcome to attend each year.

Watch the livestream here: https://vimeo.com/event/5276399/1deca8d1bb

09/15/2025

Con mucha alegría, los invitamos… ¡Celebramos 15 años de educación en salud comunitaria con nuestra propia Quinceañera! Únete a la 15º Mini Escuela de Medicina en Español el sábado, 4 de octubre de 2025 — por Zoom. Charlas sobre salud mental, dolor, demencia y más. Registrese en el enlace de nuestra bio.
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You are cordially invited… We’re celebrating 15 years of community health education with our very own Quinceañera! Join us for the 15th Annual Spanish Mini Medical School (SMMS) on Saturday, October 4, 2025 — available via Zoom. Learn from experts on key topics like mental health, pain management, dementia, and more.

Register here: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bdTX8TzdbqLTFQ

09/12/2025

We recently recognized the recipients of the 2024 Dean’s Excellence awards. The annual awards celebrate excellence in research, clinical care, inclusion, mentoring and team excellence.

It’s a privilege to honor such inspiring innovators, collaborators and mentors. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special event, and congratulations to this year’s recipients!

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research: Aijun Wang

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Care: Matthew Bobinski

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity: : Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring: Joshua J. Fenton

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring: Julie Schweitzer

· Dean’s Award for Team Excellence in Research: Neuroprosthetics Lab

· Dean’s Award for Excellence in Team Inclusion: Heart Plus Clinic – Cardiology

09/09/2025

We're thrilled to share that internal medicine resident, Debby Lee, recently received the 2025 Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeji Resident/Fellow Inclusive Excellence and Equity Award for her many efforts to advance health equity at UC Davis Health and our School of Medicine!

“Dr. Lee has shown exceptional and sustained dedication to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through her clinical care, community engagement and educational leadership,” noted the team that gave the award. “Her work embodies the spirit and mission of this prestigious award, recognizing individuals who go above and beyond to promote equity in medicine.”

The award is named for Ifeanyi Onyeji, a UC Davis Health urology resident who died in 2022. He stood out for his ceaseless dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion in graduate medical education.

Learn more about Dr. Lee and the Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeji Resident/Fellow Inclusive Excellence and Equity Award: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/improving-health-outcomes-by-connecting-with-patients-on-a-cultural-level-/2025/09

08/29/2025

Are you a community college student with dreams of becoming a doctor?

AvenueM is here to support your journey. This unique pathway program offers mentorship, MCAT prep, academic support, and a clear roadmap to medical school — all designed with community college students in mind.

AvenueM is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cohort! Students in their early community college coursework or planning to transfer Fall 2026 or later are encouraged to apply.

The deadline to apply is November 15 at 11:59 pm PST. Apply now: https://apply.pathways.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/

08/28/2025

We're thrilled to share that Kanishka Thiran Jayasundera has been appointed professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at our School of Medicine! He will also serve as the Fosse Endowed Chair in Vision Science Research.

Jayasundera specializes in retinal diseases and is known internationally for inherited retinal diseases. He built his distinguished career by focusing on improving treatments and providing mental health support for patients with inherited retinal diseases.

"Dr. Jayasundera’s clinical expertise and compassionate care have placed him at the forefront of vision restoration, including pioneering work in gene therapy and retinal prostheses," said Susan Murin, dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine. "Under his leadership, we're excited to further advance our nationally recognized ophthalmology care and research programs, benefiting our community."

Learn more about Dr. Jayasundera: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/thiran-jayasundera-appointed-chair-of-department-of-ophthalmology-and-vision-science/2025/08

08/18/2025

08/15/2025

How do you prepare tomorrow’s doctors for a constantly evolving world?

At our School of Medicine, the integration of AI, virtual reality, and personalized learning tools is reshaping medical education—making it more adaptive, immersive, and globally connected.

Mark Servis, longtime vice dean for medical education, reflects on how the school is responding to the demands of a rapidly changing health care landscape:

Mark Servis reflects on 36 years at UC Davis School of Medicine and envisions how new technological innovations could shape the future of medical education.

08/12/2025

Erik Orlando Fernandez y Garcia has held many teaching roles in his 20 years with UC Davis Health and our School of Medicine. He’s taught nutritional genomics to researchers, clinical skills to medical students and the principles of community-based primary care to undergraduate and graduate students, just to name a few.

His talent for training and guiding the next generation of physicians has earned Fernandez y Garcia a well-respected honor: He recently received the UC Davis 2025 C. John Tupper Prize for Excellence in Teaching!

Fernandez y Garcia shares more about his passion for teaching and how to serve the underserved: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/pediatrics-professor-who-encourages-students-to-have-passion-for-their-mission-receives-teaching-honor/2025/07

08/11/2025