Loma Linda University Health’s nearly 200 new medical residents got an up-close look at surrounding communities with the second annual “See the City You Serve” tour on the first day of residency orientation.
Residents representing 22 specialties spent the morning in one of four charter buses on a tour led by healthcare and community leaders to explore San Bernardino County and the branch locations where they will serve over the next few years.
Daniel Giang, MD, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education, provided narration as the bus passed by the former Norton Air Force Base, the Arrowhead Grove housing complex, the Waterman Discount Mall, and finally the SAC Health System – San Bernardino clinic located at Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino Campus.
“Rather than seeing folks in the community as people who are in need or have health concerns, our students also need to see the community as this vibrant, resilient community that has so many positives to offer them as well,” Giang said. He shared the milestones of the community’s history and emphasized the resilience it has shown time and time again. Students got a closer look at new housing developments, as well as challenges that include a low number of safe recreational spaces and nutritional food establishments.
Many of the residents completed medical school outside of California and were surprised to learn about the unique health issues the community faces. Surgery resident Emily Yin, a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin, said seeing the stark difference between San Bernardino and Loma Linda showed that even though the two are geographically close, they both have unique health concerns. “Seeing the surrounding neighborhoods, learning about their individual struggles and seeing their lack of available resources, will impact the way I care for the patients who come from this community,” Yin said.
Other students who had previous exposure to the community were still surprised by some things they experienced. Max Schauermann, a psychiatry resident and Loma Linda University graduate, said the tour exposed him to parts of the neighborhood he hadn’t seen before.
“Talking first-hand to students and community members from San Bernardino who have had experiences very different than my own was eye-opening,” Schauermann said. “This is absolutely going to impact the way I care for patients. It gives a face to the paperwork we have to handle. It’s a blessing that we’re positioned in such a prime location to provide support,” he said.
To learn more, visit Loma Linda University Health’s Graduate Medical Education program online.