Bridges Bulletin
Inquiry Symposium 2020: Preparing for a Career of Discovery
The Inquiry Symposium convened online for the first time on April 29, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This physically-distant Zoom option might have presented challenges to others, but these were easily met and overcome by the Class of 2020 – pioneers of the Bridges Curriculum and the scholarly research requirement at UCSF. As a culminating event, the Symposium was an incredible showcase of the variety of ways students are capable of progressing medical knowledge, clinical tools, and discovery during the four-year curriculum.
Awards and Honors
Katherine Hyland, PhD Receives Distinction in Teaching Award
Katherine Hyland, PhD, is one of the recipients of UCSF's 2020 Academic Senate Distinction in Teaching Award and receives the award in the category of "faculty at UCSF for more than five years." Dr. Hyland, PhD, is an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the School of Medicine, a member of UCSF's Institute for Human Genetics, and Director of the Medical Genetics Theme in the School of Medicine curriculum.

Since her induction in 2008, Dr. Hyland remains an active member of the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators and plays an active role as a member of the teaching faculty for the Center for Faculty Educators (CFE). She teaches annual workshops focused on peer assessment of teaching and supports the CFE's Teaching Observation Program.
2020 Excellence in Teaching Awards
Each year, the graduating medical student class selects residents, fellows, and faculty who have been outstanding teachers, mentors, and role models to medical students during our clinical years at UCSF. Recipients are selected on the basis of their dedication to UCSF PRIDE values, teaching excellence, and student experience.

Stephanie Rennke, MD has received the Osler Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Rennke is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine, a member of the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, and alumni of the Teaching Scholars Program.

Teaching Excellence Award for Cherished Housestaff (T.E.A.C.H.):

  • Claire DeBolt, MD, Medicine
  • Nghiem Ha, MD, MAS, Medicine
  • Katherine Malcolm, MD, MPH, Medicine
  • Erik McDonald, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery
  • John Penner, MD, Medicine

Excellence in Teaching for Clinical Faculty:

  • Peter Barish, MD, Medicine
  • Patrick Ha, MD, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
  • Solmaz Manuel, MD, Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
  • Roger Pitzen, MD, Family and Community Medicine
  • Lynn Ramirez, MD, MS, Pediatrics
Featured Educators
New Faculty Members Appointed to Coaching Program
Appointed in April, five faculty members will begin their roles as medical student coaches . In this unique role they will provide longitudinal coaching. Each coach is assigned a group of about 6 first-year medical students to coach throughout their medical school curriculum. Coaches regularly review their students’ progress and competency development with them, and guide students in individual learning planning.
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Phuoc Le , MD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Marta Kosinski , MD Professor of Pediatrics
 Professor of Surgery
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
COVID-19 Response and News
Emergency Blood Drives During COVID-19 (NEJM Catalyst)
In response to a potential blood shortage triggered by a shelter-in-place order in the San Francisco area, a multidisciplinary team at UCSF partnered with a major blood provider to create a safe and sustainable blood drive model during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a broad effort to disseminate this model, they describe the process in this case study.
Why has Coronavirus Taken Such a Toll on SF’s Asian American Community? (SF Chronicle)
Asian Americans account for half of all COVID-19 deaths in San Francisco and have higher case-to-death rates than other races and ethnicities. UCSF researchers, faculty and medical students are trying to learn why.
UCSF Medical Students Help Debunk Myths (SF Chronicle)
A group of 25 medical students are debunking some of the most common coronavirus myths through a newly launched website COVID-19 Fact Check.

“The content is beautiful and simple and quite accurate,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the UCSF School of Medicine. “It is as good as the information put out by the CDC, if not better, because it is in seven languages.”
Medical Education Policy Update
Medical Student Dress Code Update

The UCSF Medical Student Dress Code Guidelines was recently updated to remove the word ‘trimmed’ from hair and facial guidelines. This change was made at the request of students who practice Sikhism, in which religiously observant individuals do not cut or trim their hair in any way.
Generally, student guidelines (which are not formal policies) are approved by the UME Education Deans and do not go through full curriculum governance review. If you have concerns about these guidelines, please reach out to Lee Jones, MD, Associate Dean for Students.
UCSF Medical Students Join Call to Flatten Curve on Climate Change
UCSF medical students marked Earth Day on April 22 by joining medical students around the country to urge action on climate change. The COVID pandemic provides important lessons for the future about systemic inequities and the importance of addressing future crises that will strain an already strained health care system, students argued in an op-ed .
COVID-19: Lessons for Climate Change Strategy (American Public Health Association)

Joint Medical Program student, Raj Fadadu, shares four key lessons from the response to COVID-19 that can inform strategy on climate change in The Medical Care Blog for the American Public Health Association.
Virtual Events
Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis for Health Care Providers Webinar Series

Event Date: May 28 and June 4
Event Time: Thursdays, noon - 1:00 p.m.
Event Details: Please join the UCSF Department of Psychiatry for webinars featuring mental health and emotional wellness experts showing how health care providers can reduce personal stress during the COVID-19 outbreak.