UC Davis School of Medicine homegrown faculty reflect on their roots
Alumni are leading in research, patient care and training the next generation of medical professionals
(SACRAMENTO)
The same culture and values that have made UC Davis School of Medicine a major draw for prospective students have also kept many graduates on campus serving as faculty members. In classrooms and departments across the health system, UC Davis alumni are leading in research, patient care and training the next generation of medical professionals.
“We’re proud to have so many talented graduates who remain at UC Davis School of Medicine as faculty members, bringing with them fresh thinking and perspectives that enrich our academic community,” said Susan Murin, the school’s interim dean. “It’s a testament to what a special place this is.”
Olivia Campa and Kevin Mullins
What makes graduates stick around? It’s the caliber of students and faculty, a culture that’s committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and an eagerness to address health disparities in the local community.
“When I first came to visit UC Davis, I was struck by how many people I met who looked like me,” said Olivia Campa, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. “I came here as a first-generation college student and when I met Jorge A. García, he was the first physician I had met with a similar background as me. It made me feel welcome and that I belonged.”
Campa received her medical training at UC Davis and completed her residency at the medical center, where she served as chief resident in internal medicine. She appreciates the school’s commitment to training a diverse physician workforce.
“As an alumna and now professor, I am proud of the meaningful steps we have taken to create a diverse and inclusive environment to better reflect the communities we serve,” Campa said.
As an alumna and now professor, I am proud of the meaningful steps we have taken to create a diverse and inclusive environment to better reflect the communities we serve.”—Olivia Campa
In 2009, the School of Medicine implemented its nationally lauded Pathway Programs to boost underrepresented minority enrollment, particularly among students who want to work in medically underserved regions.
"The Sacramento community has complex health outcomes and UC Davis Health wants to positively change this. I want to be part of that change," Campa said.
"Here at UC Davis, we provide excellent teaching in the classroom, building the core foundation of an outstanding medical knowledge, however what truly makes UC Davis unique is all of the teaching that we offer outside of the traditional classroom," said Mullins. "Whether it be participating in one of the many student-run clinics, working hands-on in an anatomy cadaver lab or caring for underserved communities through the summer abroad program, there are endless opportunities to ensure that students are well-rounded learners and prepared in more ways than one to serve their respective communities."
For me, the longstanding commitment of UC Davis in promoting a diverse body of community outreach work undoubtedly encourages a culture of inclusion, one that I am proud to be a part of." —Kevin Mullins
Mullins has spent 13 years at UC Davis. He earned his undergraduate degree, completed medical school, did his residency at the medical center and is now serving as a faculty member. He was inspired to become a physician after volunteering in the physical therapy clinic on the UC Davis campus.
"That experience demonstrated to me early on in my academic career just how special working in our community as part of the UC Davis Sports Medicine team can be, positively helping those who are our neighbors and patients on their rehabilitation journeys," Mullins said. "For me, the longstanding commitment of UC Davis in promoting a diverse body of community outreach work undoubtedly encourages a culture of inclusion, one that I am proud to be a part of."
The UC Davis School of Medicine is a national leading academic and medical training institution. The school is ranked 9th in the U.S. for Family Medicine, 11th in Best Medical Schools for Primary Care, and 48th for Research in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings.
