making the rounds

SPR I NG 202 3

Our Simulation and Ultrasound programs are flourishing due to her unwavering support. Though Erica may no longer be with us in person, her kindness, compassion, and support for our patients, trainees, and faculty wi l l be remembered for years to come. Indeed, Erica would be proud of our accompl ishments this past year. Kern Medical again welcomed its largest class of first-year residents and fel lows into our sponsored programs in July of last year. At least a quarter of these residents were our former medical students, with several originating from the Central Val ley. Throughout the academic year, we continued to recruit new physicians into our programs, serving as teaching faculty and providing subspecial ized care and treatments previously not avai lable in our community. As the pandemic evolved into its eventual endemic state, Kern Medical witnessed the emergence of patients with higher acuity and complexity, requiring more time, expertise, and resources to provide the essential care they needed. Such a chal lenge put a significant strain on our entire hospital workforce and tested our resolve as cl inicians and educators.

Community outreach remains a strong component of our mission, emphasized by Erica’s efforts in the past. Kern Medical participated in the MESA-STEM and Pre Health Conference at Bakersfield Col lege this Apri l . The conference is designed to introduce disadvantaged students to the benefits of future careers in math and science, with an emphasis on healthcare. Several hundred local high school and col lege students participated in various speaker panels and engaged with our faculty and nursing staff in several simulation modules. We look forward to further col laborating with this and simi lar programs in the future. We continue to use the benefits of telemedicine for patient care and the hybrid approach to medical education. Our Simulation Center remains a key component of our pedological efforts, providing high-fidel ity simulation and education for our trainees. Our faculty provide direct supervision when needed and support the physical and mental wel l-being of al l learners. As we put the pandemic behind us, Kern Medical is poised to meet and surpass future chal lenges ahead of us.