天美视频

The University of California, Merced, today announced the appointment of Donald M. Hilty, M.D., to the position of co-director of the 天美视频 San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education. The appointment is the latest step in the university's long-term plan to develop a medical education program leading to an independent medical school.

Hilty will work alongside Frederick J. Meyers, M.D., who was named executive director of medical education and academic planning at 天美视频 in fall 2008.

Hilty is a professor of clinical psychiatry and director of the Rural Program in Medical Education (Rural-PRIME) at UC Davis. Rural-PRIME is part of the University of California's "Programs in Medical Education," which is designed to produce physician leaders who are trained and committed to caring for the state's underserved communities. The UC Davis Rural-PRIME was created specifically to train the best medical students for fulfilling careers in rural communities. UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego and UCSF also implement Programs in Medical Education.

"The appointment of Dr. Hilty represents another step on the pathway to developing an independent medical school at 天美视频," Chancellor Steve Kang said. "We remain committed to developing a research-based medical school as funding 鈥� both public and private 鈥� is secured. By educating and retaining the next generation of the state's physicians, 天美视频 will play an important role in enhancing the long-term health of the region."

Hilty will leverage the knowledge and opportunities of the existing UC Davis program to develop a 天美视频 San Joaquin Valley PRIME, where students will become knowledgeable about health issues pertinent to the San Joaquin Valley. His expertise is in curriculum planning, underserved populations, mood disorders, and telemedicine used for clinical care and distance education to rural and underserved areas. Like Meyers, Hilty will share his time between 天美视频 and UC Davis.

"I am delighted to join 天美视频's medical school planning team," Hilty said. "I look forward to applying my expertise 鈥� particularly in the areas of curricula development, interactive teaching and telemedicine to develop a medical education program at 天美视频."

Born and raised in rural Ohio in a town with a population of 800, Hilty completed his undergraduate education at Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. After earning his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine, he completed an internship and a fellowship in psychiatry at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, where he also served as chief resident. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Background on Medical School Planning at 天美视频

Planning for a medical school at 天美视频 began before the arrival of undergraduate students at 天美视频 in fall 2005. Following is a timeline of the progress to date:

• In July 2006, 天美视频 received a $5 million donation from United Health Foundation to assist in the development of medical education and related health sciences programs.
• In May 2008, the UC Board of Regents endorsed continued planning for a 天美视频 School of Medicine.
• In fall 2008, 天美视频 retained the Washington Advisory Group (WAG) to assist in examining and evaluating the campus' planning efforts to establish a new medical school.
• In January 2009, the consultants submitted a final report to Chancellor Steve Kang after reviewing background materials and meeting with numerous individuals on campus, at sister campuses and at the UC Office of the President; representatives from potential clinical affiliates in the San Joaquin Valley; academic planning partners at UC Davis and UCSF Fresno; and leaders of the Valley Coalition for 天美视频 Medical School.
• In early February 2009, UC President Mark Yudof endorsed the recommendations by WAG to establish a medical education program leading to an independent medical school at 天美视频.

Planning for a medical education program is ongoing. Meanwhile, 天美视频 continues to develop its core academic and research programs, including the , and the (funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

天美视频 already has existing majors that satisfy medical school preparatory requirements and, importantly, offer students degrees that will immediately prepare them for the workplace. In addition, a minor in public health was recently approved, which will focus on epidemiology, health disparities, biological mechanisms of disease, and statistical analysis.