November 2022  Volume 4     Cynthia Haq, MD Message from the Chair Greetings, UCI Family Medicine and Geriatrics are returning to a new normal as we continue to recover from the pandemic.  Faculty and staff recently gathered for our annual retreat to reflect on our progress and select priorities for the year ahead.  We emphasized reconnecting people, renewing our purpose, promoting the health of our patients and the planet, and enjoyed play in the San Joaquin Bird Sanctuary.   Nichole Quick, MD, MPH, delivered the keynote address on Health and Climate Change. We reviewed and recommitted to our core values of Excellence, Professionalism, Sustainability, Salutogenesis, Diversity, and Advocacy to promote health equity. Read More       Department and Clinic News       Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology Alzheimer & Dementia Care for Geriatric Patients As the demographics in Orange County and the nation change, with ever growing numbers of people over 65 and a sharper increase in people over 80, we are more aware of the role that dementia plays in later years.  Alzheimer’s disease is the 3rd leading cause of death in Orange County; over 12% of those 65 years and older have some form of dementia, as reported in the OC Healthy Aging Initiative. Read More     Residency News With the announcement that Dr. Emily Dow, Residency Program Director (PD), will be retiring at the end of the academic year 2022-23, Dr. John Hann, current Academic Associate Program Director (APD) and FM Hospitalist, will be transitioning to the role as PD in July 2023. Read More     FQHC News UCI Health Family Health Centers - Anaheim and Santa Ana The UCI Health Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with two locations to serve communities in Santa Ana and Anaheim.  During 2021, Family Medicine, Pediatric and Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty, staff, residents, and students in the UCI Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy provided care for 24,741 unique patients at our FQHCs.  Most patients we served live on incomes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, many are immigrants, and many do not speak English.  The clinics serve communities designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas by the federal government.   Read More       Discover       Scholarship Research Updates Family Medicine has welcomed three new research faculty in 2022 including Jaih Craddock PhD, MSW; Ursula Worsham EdD; and Juliet McMullin, PhD. This group, along with John Billimek, PhD, and Cynthia Haq, MD, have established a Family Medicine Research Unit to advance scholarship and discovery in the department through fostering research education, collaboration, creativity, resource navigation and submission of grants. Read More     Medical Humanities Program in Medical Humanities and Arts (PMHA) October 2022 was National Arts and Humanities Month. President Biden’s September 30th proclamation begins by stating that, “(t)he arts, the humanities, and museum and library services are essential to the well-being, health, vitality, and democracy of our Nation.” This statement encapsulates the work of PMHA which continues to thrive through its many connections across the School of Medicine. As a hub for PMHA, the Department of Family Medicine is a testament to how humanities and arts are woven into well-being, health, and vitality. Read More       Heal       Integrative Medicine Integrative Medicine for the Underserved Ah fall. The weather (finally, maybe, sort of) gets cooler and new residents get a little more comfortable in their roles. The Integrative Medicine track welcomed our newest member, Krystal Melgarejo, MD, who, even as an intern, has already been able to join a few of our sessions! Read More       Faculty       New Faculty Profiles Welcome to our new Faculty Jaih Craddock PhD, MSW Bhavana Gandotra MD Ursula Worsham EdD Laura Zavala MD Read More       Staff       Staff News Welcome to our new Staff Mine Demir Department Administrator Maureen Corrigan Finance Analyst Briana Ellico Academic Affairs Partner Bre Anna McNeill Medical Education Coordinator Danielle Chavez Research Associate Read More       Family Medicine IDEAS Committee The department’s new Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Salutogenesis (IDEAS) health promotion committee has enjoyed a productive year.  We launched an internal department grants program to support health equity related projects. Read More   Support Family Medicine UCI Family Medicine has trained more than 400 family physicians since it was established in 1969. We are proud of our graduates and grateful for your support. If you would like to support training future family physicians and/or outreach efforts, we invite you to donate here. If you wish to support the Division of Geriatrics, we invite you to donate here.       UCI Department of Family Medicine 200 South Manchester, Suite 835, Orange, CA 92868 Phone: 714-456-5171 | www.familymed.uci.edu © 2023