Alumni Weekend
(and an important transition)

Below you’ll find photos from Alumni Weekend 21–22, which we celebrated just a few weeks ago. We hope they’ll make you smile and inspire you to return to campus for Alumni Weekend next year. You’ll be hearing from us about a spring date for 2023 in the coming months.

In this issue you’ll also see our bow to six of our exceptional alumni — our School of Medicine Alumni Association (SOMAA) Alumni award recipients for 2021 and 2022. We celebrate them and all our past recipients, and we know there are many alums doing amazing work who have yet to be honored.

We want your help in identifying other outstanding alums doing exceptional work who deserve recognition through our annual awards, whether next year or in years to come. The nomination process is simple. Visit health.ucdavis.edu/medalumni. Click the Awards tab and “Submit a Nomination.” (Note that self-nominations are welcome.)

Finally, we are celebrating 6+ years of happy work and saying farewell — and readying for an important transition. Alumni Engagement Director M.L. Farrell is retiring in June. The search is underway for her successor, and we look forward to not only a smooth transition to a new leader for alumni engagement, but to staying connected with M.L. as she moves on to volunteer work and enjoying a leisurely coffee with SOM friends and colleagues now and then.

Keep an eye out for word from us soon introducing our new director. Until then, Lisa Schaffer, managing executive director of development (SOM), will be your contact for all things SOM alumni.

See a recap of our alumni award recipients and view the entire Alumni Weekend photo album

Doug Gross, M.D., President, UC Davis School of Medicine Alumni Association

Doug Gross (M.D., ’90)
President, UC Davis School of Medicine Alumni Association

M.L. Farrell, Director, Alumni Engagement

M.L. Farrell
(Retired) Director School of Medicine Alumni Engagement

Lisa Schaffer, Managing Executive Director of Development at the School of Medicine

Lisa Schaffer
Managing Executive Director of Development
916-842-9590 laschaffer@ucdavis.edu

Cheers for our first-ever 50th reunion! Members of the Class of 1972 share memories on Friday afternoon.
SOMAA President Doug Gross (M.D. ’90) welcomes the crowd to the first in-person Alumni Weekend since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The event was an opportunity for 5-year class reunion celebrations for M.D. grad years ending in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7.
Turnout (and laughter) were high at a gathering to share memories of working with and learning from the late Faith Fitzgerald. Read a memorial story about Dr. Fitzgerald and find links to additional remembrances and past interviews.
Ruth Shim, associate dean of diverse and inclusive education, gives one of four presentations by prominent faculty about innovations in medical education and research at UC Davis Health. Shim is co-editor of the books The Social Determinants of Mental Health and Social (In)Justice and Mental Health.
Members of the Class of 1982 gather for their 40-year reunion.
Young alumni with Lauren Snow, the School of Medicine’s longtime director of financial aid (and a leader in stewarding and advancing student scholarships), who retired in 2021.
Class of 2017 colleagues Andrew Chomchuensawat and Walter Chang reconnect.
At a tribute session for Faith Fitzgerald, 1990s alumni connect with Ernie Lewis, emeritus professor of clinical urology and emeritus associate dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs.
Nancy Griffith and Jean Katow get creative on behalf of their class at the new SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity site of the 2021 and 2022 Alumni Awards presentation.
UC Davis Medical Center’s chief administrator Brad Simmons shares how UC Davis Health’s campus — and regional mission — are continuing to evolve, with a goal of “completing not competing” to advance health and care across Northern California.
Face painting and other treats were part of the informal family-friendly activities on the Vanderhoef Commons Saturday afternoon, a time for adults to catch up casually with faculty and staff.
Folks from the classes of 2001 and 2002 represent Generation X!

Other recommended reading