New Resident Physicians Tour the City They Will Serve

Behind the Loma Linda University Church, four charter buses pulled up to accommodate more than 170 new resident physicians on the first “See the City You Serve” tour during the first day of residency orientation in Loma Linda, California, United States.

On Monday, June 25, 2018, the newest class of Loma Linda University Medical Center resident physicians explored San Bernardino County and the branch clinic locations where they will serve, including the current SAC Health System – San Bernardino clinic located at Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino Campus. They also saw the old SAC Health System – Norton clinic on Third Street.

The tour offered resident physicians a unique glimpse into the health disparities of one of the largest counties in the U.S. and a better understanding of social determinants their patients face. Graduate Medical Education associate dean Daniel Giang organized the bus tour with the goal of enriching the resident physicians’ understanding of where many of their patients live, work, and thrive.

Shocking Health Disparities

“There is a bigger story to tell out here in the Inland Empire,” Giang said, in reference to the metropolitan area and region in Southern California. “I hope the resident physicians now have an even better idea of the community and people they will serve as health-care professionals.”

Before the tour, Patricia Flynn, assistant professor of psychology at Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health and assistant professor of preventive medicine at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, shed light on the growing number of health disparities among the more than two million residents living in San Bernardino County. Of those residents, she said, 22 percent were born outside the U.S., and as many as 41 percent are non-native English speakers.

Flynn said 26 percent of families in the city of San Bernardino live in poverty and 44 percent of single mothers with children live in poverty.

The statistics struck a chord with many of the resident physicians, in particular those who were not familiar with San Bernardino. According to Giang, 75 percent of Loma Linda University Medical Center’s residents have never lived in the Inland Empire.

Emergency medicine resident Amanda Feeney said she had never heard of a program taking residents on a tour of their new community. “It was phenomenal to hear the history of San Bernardino and to learn the value of a strong community as it relates to health.” She said she chose Loma Linda University Medical Center for its commitment to community health care.

For Hector Almanzar-Ramos, selecting an internal medicine residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center was founded on his commitment to giving back.

“I want to be involved in giving back to an underserved community like San Bernardino,” Almanzar-Ramos said. “My goal is to serve as both a teacher and mentor within the community.”

Connecting With the Community

During the tour, resident physicians got a glimpse of such sites as the former Norton Air Force Base, some large logistics facilities, the Inland Center mall, Inland Regional Center, and Sierra High School. In addition, they got a close look at new housing developments, as well as areas that lack safe recreational spaces and nutritionally beneficial food establishments.

The tour gave the new group of residents a look at the spirit and feel of a close-knit community that is continually growing. “We want the physicians to feel they can contribute to not only solving some of the health disparities through clinical care, but also through research, volunteer services, and working in the SAC clinics,” said Giang, who organized the tour.

New resident William Michael Downes said he was looking forward to the impact he can have on each of his patients. The emergency medicine resident’s goal is to “be there for people on their worst day and help them have brighter days ahead,” he said.

Giang said plans for future bus tours for incoming resident physicians are in the works. “[Our team] plans to collaborate with the new residents and to offer even more insight into San Bernardino, its neighboring communities, and their health-care needs,” he said.