New medical residents honored in Santa Cruz ceremony through new hospital and school partnership
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) - A white coat ceremony in Santa Cruz Tuesday afternoon marked a group of inaugural family resident graduates. It’s all part of a new partnership between Dignity Health Dominican Hospital and Morehouse School of Medicine.
These residents are set to embark on a rigorous three-year program that the hospital says is dedicated to nurturing culturally humble family physicians beginning this month.
“They will be working both in the hospital learning inpatient medicine, but also with multiple partners throughout Santa Cruz County and Watsonville, for outpatient training. And this will be a great opportunity for them to help address the underserved populations in our community who so desperately need our help," Domincan Hospital President Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz.
Dominican Hospital is one of seven sites throughout the county as part of the More in Common Alliance.
It’s a 10-year commitment between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health to address those healthcare disparities.
Morehouse School of Medicine's President and CEO says it marks a major milestone not only for these eight new residents, but also the Santa Cruz County community.
"These young people will be in training. So it is bi-directional learning, and I hope that the community will appreciate the role that they will have in ensuring that these individuals are culturally competent, and culturally believe humility, have cultural humility, as they extend care to them," Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice said.
For these new residents, they say this partnership has benefited them greatly, especially heading into this new chapter.
"We really look forward to being able to help all the people in this community, our backgrounds are very diverse. So we'll be able to offer personalized care, and hopefully functional and integrative medicine to them as well," resident Dr. Dara Lopes said.
The white coat ceremony marks a pivotal moment, symbolizing the transition of students from academic study to clinical practice.
