School of Medicine News - A Community-Based Medical School for the 21st Century

UCR SOM to Host Watch Party of Gubernatorial Forum on Healthcare

UCR SOM Staff — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

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 committed to ensuring that every Californian has the opportunity to live healthy and well.

SOM Hosts All Research Cores Symposium

UCR SOM Staff — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UCR SOM Participates in 2025 Rally for Medical Research

UCR SOM Staff — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700

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. 

UCR SOM Celebrates White Coat Ceremony for Class of 2029

UCR SOM Staff — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

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 activities. See photos of the event here.

Celebrating 50 Years of Biomedical Sciences at UCR

Erika Klein — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

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.

Serving Undocumented Patients in the Inland Empire, Starting Now: Valeria Barrientos, Class of 2025

Erika Klein — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

A few months ago, a patient at the Coachella Valley Free Clinic had an uncommon reaction to a routine blood pressure test. Seeing the high blood pressure reading, the patient began hyperventilating until UC Riverside biomedical sciences master’s student Valeria Barrientos spoke to her in Spanish, helping to calm her down.

Meet Three Members of the SOM Class of 2025

Erika Klein — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Marina Joseph: Overcoming Self-Doubt to Thrive in Medical School A few days before Marina Joseph’s very first final exam as a medical student, her bag containing her laptop, iPad, and all her notes was stolen.

Owusu-Frimpong Named VIAA Recipient

UCR SOM Staff — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Isaac Owusu-Frimpong, financial administrative officer in the Division of Biomedical Sciences, was named the recipient of the UCR School of Medicine Values in Action Award (VIAA) at the quarterly Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Owusu-Frimpong was honored for his "unwavering commitment to the SOM values," and for ensuring "that there were no barriers for faculty, staff, alumni and visitors."

Conducting Research that Serves Patients: Declan McCole, PhD

Erika Klein — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 -0700

At a community presentation in San Diego several years ago, Declan McCole, PhD, a professor of Biomedical Sciences at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, recalled speaking to a patient about his work on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when the patient’s husband approached. “He had tears in his eyes, and he shook my hand and said, ‘Thank you so much for all that you're doing, you have no idea how much it means to know that people are working behind the scenes to try and find a cure for my wife's condition,’” McCole said.

SOM Hosts BMSC 50th Anniversary Symposium

Erika Klein — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 -0700

On Monday, the UCR School of Medicine hosted the Biomedical Sciences 50th Anniversary Symposium, marking the culmination of the department’s yearlong anniversary celebration. The event welcomed alumni, former faculty and staff, and current faculty, staff, and students to reflect on the impact of Biomedical Sciences over the years while looking forward to the future.

Biomedical Scientist goes to Washington to Discuss Importance of Federal Research Funding

Erika Klein — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In early March, researchers from UC Riverside visited Washington, DC, with an important message: If the United States loses its position as a global leader in science, other nations will take its place--and may withhold new discoveries impacting public health, security, and other vital areas.

Lo named to CARB Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants

Ross French — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0800

SOM Announces 2025 Dean's Collaborative Seed Grants

UCR SOM Staff — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

UCR School of Medicine has announced the recipients of the 2025 Dean's Collaborative Seed Grants. The grant provides funds up to $25,000 in seed grant funding for collaborative interdisciplinary research projects between faculty in the Division of Biomedical Sciences and UCR as a whole, aimed at developing proposals and preliminary data for full NIH or similar grant applications. More information is available on the website.

UCR SOM Presents 2024 Faculty Achievement Awards

UCR SOM Staff — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800

The UCR School of Medicine presented the 2024 UCR SOM Faculty Achievement Awards during its quarterly Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, December 3. The awards covered categories including teacher of the year, mentor of the year, research achievements, clinical faculty awards, and more.

Pegan Named Associate Dean for Preclerkship Medical Education

UCR SOM Staff — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Nair Named New Associate Dean for Biomedical Research

UCR SOM Staff — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Three West Point Cadets to Participate in Inaugural Research Internship Program

Ross French — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Three cadets from the US Military Academy at West Point will be conducting research internships in the University of California Riverside School of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences program as the inaugural participants in a new program designed to build research-based bridges between the institutions.

Coss Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development

UCR SOM Staff — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700

The UC Riverside Office of Research and Economic Development (AVC-RED) has named School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences researcher Djurdjica Coss, PhD as  associate vice chancellor. Her official start date is slated for September 1, 2023.

School of Medicine Announces End-of-Year Awards

UCR SOM Staff — Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 -0700

With the end of the 2022-23 academic year now upon us, the UC Riverside School of Medicine hosted several awards ceremonies for students, faculty and staff members. Listed below are the award recipients. Congratulations to all of our honorees. Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch These awards were presented at the Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch at the Alumni and Visitors Center on May 10, 2023.

Committed to the Long Haul

Erika Klein — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Several mornings each week, Isaac Owusu-Frimpong rises with the sun to complete a morning run before heading to work at the UCR School of Medicine. But these are no leisurely jogs. The Division of Biomedical Sciences FAO recently completed two marathons in six weeks and is training for more.