KM-MedEdu-Book-2021

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KERN MEDICAL

MEDICAL EDUCATION

VALLEY FEVER INSTITUTE Kern Medical established the Valley Fever Institute, a place where our internationally recognized infectious disease experts provide training on how to diagnose and treat Coccidioidmycosis, also known as Valley Fever, to primary care physicians, specialists, and other healthcare providers throughout the state, with the goal of reducing the prevalence of misdiagnosis and delayed care.

Kern Medical Foundation

The Kern Medical Foundation is committed to supporting an environment of academic excellence. Our efforts focus on securing funds that provide support to medical students, residents, fellows and faculty. These funds enhance medical education, improve skill development, and cultivate a culture that promotes well-being and learning. Alongside Kern Medical, we strive to be a leader in improving the health and wellness of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. We have developed the Kern Medical Academy, which is a health career pipeline that begins with high school students and provides them with opportunities to interact with medical students and residents, as well as experience a variety of hands on learning opportunities within the walls of Kern Medical. Over the last few years, the Foundation has raised more than $5.1M to support medical education. RECENTLY FUNDED PROJECTS: • Simulation Center $650,000 • Academic Meeting Rooms Technology (4) $55,000 • Library & Journal Resources $36,000 • Southern San Joaquin Research Forum $7,500 • Wellness & Graduation Activities $50,000

Kern Medical’s long history of caring for those suffering from Valley Fever began with Dr. Hans E. Einstein, the foremost authority on the disease who led our treatment for decades. The Institute is home to the region’s renowned researcher and clinician Dr. Royce H. Johnson. Along with Dr. Johnson, our Associate Medical Directors include infectious disease specialists Dr. Arash Heidari, and Dr. Rasha Kuran. Designed as a patient-centered specialty care clinic, the Institute incorporates patient care, treatment, support services, education, and research at a single location. Many of the treatments offered at the Valley Fever Clinic are not readily available in most parts of the country; patients are referred to us locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally for specialized care. SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RESEARCH FORUM Kern Medical is committed to the rigors of academics and research. This annual event is designed to foster in-depth comprehension of research, and the promotion of scholarly pursuits among residents, faculty, physicians, medical students, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and mental health clinicians for the advancement of medical science. The Forum serves to highlight research activities and to recognize special contributions and innovations to healthcare and medical education. Research and scholarly activity are inclusive requirements of all approved residency-training specialty programs at Kern Medical. Participation in medical and scientific research contributes to the advancement of high-quality patient care and serves to recognize Kern Medical as a best practice, science-based, tertiary referral center.

EVERY KID PEDIATRICS PROJECT Kern Medical Foundation has secured more than $9 million in grant funding for our Every Kid Pediatrics project. Funding will be used to secure new state-of-the-art pediatric equipment and renovate spaces for both inpatient and ambulatory pediatric clinics. Construction began August 2021.

After 19 years, the Kern Medical Research Forum grew to become the Southern San Joaquin Valley Research Forum to expand and better reflect the valuable medical research taking place not just at Kern Medical, but California State University, Bakersfield, the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, and other area medical training programs. The Forum is funded by the Kern Medical Alumni Society.

The Kern Medical Alumni Society was established to help build a network for Residency Program graduates with one goal – to foster relationships and build connections among members & community partners to help advance patient care and education.