Community Engagement

Resident Mentorship for Decision Medicine students

Decision Medicine is a summer program designed to introduce high school students to the world of medicine. Created by the San Joaquin Medical Society, the program aims to inspire high-achieving students from underprivileged and underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers in healthcare and to one day return to serve their own communities. This unique opportunity is made possible through the dedication and generosity of countless volunteers across our community, who give their time and expertise to guide the next generation of future physicians.

4th Grade McKinley project

For the past two years, our Internal Medicine residency program has partnered with McKinley Elementary School on Stockton’s south side through an ABIM grant-funded initiative called the 4th Grade Classroom Project. The program’s goal is to inspire young students to imagine futures as healthcare professionals who will one day serve their own communities. To nurture this vision, we address each student as “Doctor ___” during every session, a small gesture that carries a big message. Looking ahead, we hope to expand by involving pre-med volunteers, welcoming residents from Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and Neurology, and growing from a single classroom to all three of McKinley’s 4th-grade classrooms. Each month’s session includes ready-to-use PowerPoints and interactive activities, while still leaving room for volunteers to bring their own creativity to design new lessons and experiences.

Developing connections with community-based organizations

The Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) partners with community-based organizations such as APSARA, El Concilio, and others to deepen our understanding of diverse cultures and community practices. Through collaborative initiatives like panel discussions, we aim to enhance the cultural competency of our residents and faculty. These efforts are designed to better prepare current and future trainees to effectively care for the diverse patient populations they will serve.