Inaugural Bernadett Lecture Honors a Legacy of Service
The inaugural Faustino Bernadett, M.D. Sr. Lecture on October 1, 2026, was a wonderful occasion to honor the late physician and celebrate the values of compassionate care, service and community that his legacy represents. Hosted by the UC Davis Department of Family and Community Medicine, the gathering marked the beginning of a meaningful new educational tradition. Faustino Bernadett, Sr. was a family physician in Northern California and the only Spanish-speaking doctor in the area, giving many patients access to care they otherwise struggled to receive because they could not communicate with other physicians. Some of his patients paid him in tamales.
We were especially delighted to welcome UC Davis School of Medicine alumna Renée Crichlow, M.D., as the inaugural speaker. A graduate of both our medical school and family medicine residency, Crichlow is a lecturer at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her leadership also includes serving as chief medical officer of Codman Square Health Center and vice chair for health equity at Boston University. Her career in patient care, education and advocacy made her a fitting speaker to launch this lectureship.
Established through the generosity of Tino Bernadett, M.D., and Martha Molina Bernadett, M.D., the lectureship carries forward Bernadett, Sr.’s dedication to caring for others while creating opportunities to inspire future physicians. We are deeply grateful for this gift and the family’s partnership with UC Davis School of Medicine. Their generosity made this special inaugural evening possible and will help keep his legacy alive through learning and service.
Tino Bernadett shared how his father’s example inspired the establishment of the lecture. His father volunteered at Clínica Tepati, the UC Davis School of Medicine student-run clinic, from its earliest days and later joined the faculty. For 14 years, he also traveled to Mexico every year to provide free medical care at rural missionary hospitals, where people would line up for days to see a doctor.
“My father believed that everyone deserved compassionate care, regardless of the language they spoke or their ability to pay. He showed us that being a physician means listening, earning trust and reaching people who might otherwise go without care. Through this lecture, we hope to inspire the next generation of family doctors to carry that same spirit of service into their own communities,” said Tino Bernadett.
