A medical school for Inland Southern Californiahttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mkbln2v3hk2iProf. David Lo, MD, PhD, and graduate researcher Diana Del Castillo of the UCR SOM's Division of Biomedical Sciences have published research in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology that identified previously unrecognized immune “sentinel” cells in hair follicles. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/04/24/immune-surveillance-structures-found-skin-hair-follicles24 Apr 2026 22:36 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkbln2v3hk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mkazriquqc26Congratulations to Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Denise Martinez, MD, on being selected to participate in the 32nd cohort of The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) at the Drexel University College of Medicine. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/04/24/ucr-som-leader-selected-elam-fellowship24 Apr 2026 17:17 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkazriquqc26https://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mjzjjowrxc2wOn Friday, the UC Riverside School of Medicine hosted the inaugural UC Summit on Methamphetamine. With California being disproportionately impacted by methamphetamine use, the daylong conference provided a space to come together to address the overdose crisis. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/04/20/uc-summit-meth-202621 Apr 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzjjowrxc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mhvknnjecs2lOn March 26, the UCR SOM PRIME African, Black, and Caribbean Exhibit will open at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California The reception begins at 12 noon and features refreshments, guests, and a first look at the exhibit. The institute is located at 3933 Mission Inn Ave., Suite 10325 Mar 2026 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvknnjecs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mhbtydkr6s2jThis Friday, medical students will find out the location of the residency program where they'll take the next step in their careers. The UCR SOM Office of Career and Residency Advising (OCRA) helped them get there. See how OCRA supports students on the SOM News website. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/03/17/som-ocra-story17 Mar 2026 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbtydkr6s2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mgvm6fxauc2nThe UCR SOM’s PRIME LEAD ABC Program has received the 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, recognizing its work preparing future physicians to advance health equity for African, Black, and Caribbean communities in Inland Southern California.12 Mar 2026 23:58 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgvm6fxauc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mgvb7qsmpk2iMedical and premedical students from across California will gather at the UCR SOM this Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, for the 2026 Unified California Community Health Conference (UCCHC), which is focused on advancing community health initiatives and collaboration among future physicians. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/03/12/ucchc-conference-202612 Mar 2026 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgvb7qsmpk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mgsdwo2ns22hGood luck to Nala Kachour, a doctoral student in the School of Medicine's Division of Biomedical Sciences, who will be competing in today's semi final of Grad Slam at the Genomics Auditorium at 1:15 pm! Her presentation is titled "Built to Last: How Toxoplasma Maintains Life-long Infection."11 Mar 2026 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgsdwo2ns22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mggf3hjvkc2aThe University of California, Riverside School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience is partnering with The Craig School in Irvine to bring comprehensive, no-cost mental health services directly to students through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/03/06/som-dept-psychiatry-and-neuroscience-partners-craig-school-provide-support06 Mar 2026 22:41 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mggf3hjvkc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mg3v6c4hd22eThank you for all of your efforts in caring for our patients and communities and for teaching our medical students! Your hard work does not go unnoticed!02 Mar 2026 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3v6c4hd22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mfuaxlni5c2mMore than four decades after its recognition by the US government, Black History Month continues to hold importance in communities, serving as a space for reflection and remembrance. To honor this, several members of the UCR SOM community shared their perspectives on what this month means to them. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/02/27/reflections-black-history-month27 Feb 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfuaxlni5c2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mfplyrhrg22kProfessor Sika Zheng of the UC Riverside School of Medicine and his team found that an when a protein called UPF2 is missing, neurons lose their way and the brain’s structure can become disorganized, with changes linked to epilepsy, autism, and schizophrenia. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/02/25/keeping-neurons-right-path25 Feb 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfplyrhrg22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mfl2zmt2oc2lThe month of Ramadan, which began last week, is when many Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset. Sherif Hassan, MD, a professor of internal medicine at the UCR School of Medicine, answers questions about fasting, including its benefits as well as the risks and precautions. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/02/24/science-ramadan-fasting24 Feb 2026 02:00 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfl2zmt2oc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mfclryumdc2bThe UCR School of Medicine's Internal Medicine Interest Group hosted a cardiac ultrasound workshop at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Healing the Earth Conference held at the SOM Education Building II on February 7, 2026.20 Feb 2026 17:06 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfclryumdc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mf6frpfjjc2ySave the date for the UCR School of Medicine Open House on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10 am to 2 pm. Learn more at our website. medschool.ucr.edu/openhouse19 Feb 2026 01:07 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf6frpfjjc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mejygjjnms2gCongratulations to doctoral student Ting-An Lin, who works in the lab of Professor of Biomedical Sciences Changcheng Zhou at the UCR School of Medicine, on receiving a 2026 American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship. https://insideucr.ucr.edu/awards/2026/02/10/graduate-student-awarded-2026-american-heart-association-predoctoral-fellowship10 Feb 2026 22:15 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mejygjjnms2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3me7hk5kits2mFebruary is American Heart Month and heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Ramy Sadek, MD, a board-certified cardiologist with UCR Health, hosts a Q&A that discusses key heart health facts, including often-overlooked risk factors, and the importance of prevention. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/02/06/what-you-should-know-about-your-heart06 Feb 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7hk5kits2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3me554jowkk2oTuesday, February 3 was National Women Physicians Day! We are proud of each and every one of our physicians in the UC Riverside School of Medicine and UC Riverside Health. Thank you all for what you do!05 Feb 2026 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3me554jowkk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mdy67x6qnc23First and second year medical students from the UCR School of Medicine Run Club competed in the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach on Sunday, February 1st. Advisor Patricia Walker, the associate director of LACE, also ran the half marathon.03 Feb 2026 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdy67x6qnc23https://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mdxwvoq6jk2iTomorrow, February 4, 2026 at 12 noon, the UCR SOM welcomes Gabrielle Pina, DO, for our Black History Month Lunch and Learn. This event is open to the campus and public. Register using the QR code in the image Co-hosted by UCR SOM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and UCR African Student Programs03 Feb 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdxwvoq6jk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mdveuhs24s2vThe UCR SOM Center for Healthy Communities has announced the recipients of its annual Community Medicine and Population Health Mini-Grants Program. The program funds up to two community health and population medicine initiatives per year and has awarded more than $60K to over the past seven years. https://somnews.ucr.edu/articles/2026/02/02/chc-announces-2026-mini-grant-recipients02 Feb 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdveuhs24s2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mdgipntxlc2vNew research by Emma Wilson, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences at the UCR School of Medicine, has found that the common parasite toxoplasma gondii is far more complex than previously believed and may be why it has been so difficult to treat. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/01/27/scientists-find-hidden-diversity-inside-common-brain-parasite27 Jan 2026 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdgipntxlc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mdekl4gmgs2qMark Wolfson, PhD, professor and chair of the UC Riverside School of Medicine's Dept. of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health, is quoted in the New Yorker about what political parties are doing correctly and incorrectly in creating political coalitions. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/02/what-maga-can-teach-democrats-about-organizing-and-infighting27 Jan 2026 00:59 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdekl4gmgs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3md4iazzgms2eA pair of recent studies by Declan McCole, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences at the UCR School of Medicine, highlight the role of a gene called PTPN2 in protecting the gut from harmful bacteria linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/01/23/how-single-gene-shapes-gut-health-and-ibd-risk23 Jan 2026 19:56 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3md4iazzgms2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mcvbxbfo222rThe UCR SOM welcomed Cheryl Anderson, PhD, MPH, professor and dean of the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, as the speaker for its 2026 Grand Rounds last Thursday, January 15, 2026.20 Jan 2026 23:15 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcvbxbfo222rhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mci6nh6qi22kThe California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP) is a statewide initiative that helps community college students pursue careers in medicine, reports a paper published in the journal Academic Medicine. The UC Riverside School of Medicine's Daniel Teraguchi and Teresa Cofield are coauthors. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2026/01/15/community-college-pathway-expands-and-diversifies-physician-pipeline15 Jan 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mci6nh6qi22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mcg4sqbxzs2zThe School of Medicine is excited to announce that we are hosting the 2026 Unified California Community Health Conference (UCCHC) on March 13-14, 2026. Ticket info and more can be found at their link. www.ucchconference.org14 Jan 2026 22:33 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcg4sqbxzs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3mcdc4wqqvc2cNot all heart failure is the same! Research by UCR SOM medical students, including Kayhon Rabbani, MD, Cloie Chiong, MD, Roy Mendoza, MD, and MS3 Pavneet Kaur, examined more than 250K hospitalizations to analyze how types of heart failure impacts patient outcomes. https://cr.elmerpub.com/index.php/cr/article/view/211813 Jan 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcdc4wqqvc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/ucrmedschool.bsky.social/post/3maoci775xs2aResearch from Changcheng Zhou, PhD, in the UCR School of Medicine Division of Biomedical Sciences finds that a father’s microplastic exposure can alter sperm RNA and raise metabolic disease risk in offspring, with female offspring most affected. Published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/12/23/fathers-microplastic-exposure-tied-their-childrens-metabolic-problems23 Dec 2025 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:7lhaozd5anonvef3gm5k74sq/app.bsky.feed.post/3maoci775xs2a