News From…
Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2008 |
CONTACT: Jamie McInerney (202) 225-6131 |
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FRESNO, CA – Yesterday, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Atwater) met with the Valley Coalition for UC Merced Medical School at Children's Hospital of Central California. The Coalition is comprised of San Joaquin Valley leaders who are committed to the establishment of a medical school at UC Merced that will help meet the unique healthcare needs of the state and region.
The Coalition, chaired by former Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Bill Lyons, Jr. and Bryn Forhan of Fresno, today asked UC Merced officials to meet with prospective incoming University of California president Mark G. Yudof to gain support for a medical school located at UC Merced.
"Every single Valley resident would benefit from a medical school located at UC Merced,” said Congressman Costa. “We're currently experiencing a shortage in doctors, and this school will help bridge this gap, as well bring in new specialists to our local hospitals. I am looking forward to working with this coalition and with others to make this school a reality.”
"The coalition is an impressive group of distinguished business and community leaders who are clearly dedicated to bringing a medical school to the region," stated Congressman Cardoza. “Establishing a medical school at UC Merced is the single most important thing we can do to address the critical physician shortage in the San Joaquin Valley."
Based on more than three years of comprehensive planning, UC Merced's proposal for a medical school builds on the campus' strong health sciences research base and leverages partnerships with UC Davis and UCSF schools of medicine. Existing healthcare facilities in the Valley will be used for clinical training, with the first clinic location to be at the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program. Because the proposed model for medical education leverages existing resources, it is the most cost-effective and expeditious way to establish a new medical school.
“Bringing a medical school to the Valley will help address the critical needs of underserved communities who suffer disproportionately from the physician shortage in the Valley,” said Lyons.
"With this coalition of Valley leaders, we have been able to bring together a formidable group of people who are intent on bringing a UC Medical School to the Valley," stated Forhan.
"A medical school at UC Merced will offer a number of benefits to the region and state," said UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang. "It is a long-term process to establish a medical school and we are sincerely grateful for the support of our local, state and federal elected officials and community leaders in the Valley who recognize the need and value of a UC School of Medicine to serve the region."
The Valley Coalition is actively working to facilitate an endorsement from the UC Board of Regent's that will enable UC Merced to continue planning for a medical school. The campus is expected to seek approval to continue planning from the Regents' committee on Health Services and the full Board of Regents at their May meeting. The Regents meet May 14 - 15 at UCLA.
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