Saint Agnes partners with California Health Sciences University for medical student teaching

Fresno, CA—Saint Agnes is proud to announce an expanded partnership with California Health Sciences University (CHSU) for third-year medical student teaching.

Saint Agnes has signed a new, multi-year contract with the University to provide core clinical rotations to CHSU third-year medical students through the Saint Agnes Graduate Medical Education (GME) Residency Program. Saint Agnes physicians will also continue to teach CHSU fourth-year medical students for elective clinical rotations in sub-specialties.

“Saint Agnes and CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine have established a strategic partnership to advance medical education by offering high-quality medical student rotations within our resident teaching services,” says Mehdi Hakimipour, MD, Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and Chair of Saint Agnes Graduate Medical Education. “This collaboration aims to strengthen local ties, enhance undergraduate medical education and promote physician retention in our community.”

The shortage of physicians in the Valley is a known concern. As our patient population grows, so must our physician footprint. The goal with this partnership is to not only provide undergraduate medical education in our area, but to encourage medical students to pursue residency opportunities and practice here to serve our Valley patients.

“This partnership further strengthens our commitment to academic medical excellence and showcases how Saint Agnes is leading the Valley in delivering hands-on, evidence-based clinical practice to prepare the next generation of physicians and clinicians within our own community,” says John Evanko, MD, Saint Agnes Chief Medical Officer.

”Saint Agnes is a long-time partner of CHSU and we have a shared vision to provide excellent medical education to increase recruitment and retention of physicians with a heart to serve our Central Valley patients,” says Florence T. Dunn, President of California Health Sciences University.

Medical students will learn from resident physicians and GME physician faculty through residency programs in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Transitional Year – as well as a Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. The hospital teaching environment gives students direct access to an enriched educational environment during morning reports, board meetings, lectures, didactics, monthly group rounding, and clinical research.

”We are excited that our CHSU medical students can now receive core clinical education at Saint Agnes Medical Center, one of the largest residency programs in our region, and only 6 miles from our campus,” stated John Graneto, DO, Dean of the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“The partnership also enhances our collaboration with Saint Agnes physicians who will have access to our campus resources, like our state-of-the-art Simulation Center, Faculty Development Programming, Health Sciences Library, etc.” “The new partnership between Saint Agnes and California Health Science University comes with much enthusiasm as medical education continues to grow in the Central Valley,” says Kari Finfrock, Director, Saint Agnes Graduate Medical Education. “As we look to the future, we are adhering to our ultimate goal of providing excellent patient care through physician retention and strengthening undergraduate medical education.”

For more information about this partnership or Saint Agnes’ GME program, click here.

For more information about California Health Sciences University in Clovis, click here.