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appeared 26 May 1999
New Dean Named to Lead UCSF-Fresno Medical
Education Program
Deborah Claire Stewart, a pediatrician with expertise in working with high-risk youth, has
been named associate dean of the UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program.
The appointment of Stewart, who currently serves as associate dean for medical student
affairs at UC Irvine and is a graduate of the UCSF School of Medicine, was announced
earlier this month by Haile Debas, dean of the medical school.
"I am delighted with the recruitment of Dr. Deborah Stewart. She is an energetic,
innovative and committed medical educator and clinician. She takes on the challenges of
her job with a fresh outlook. Her years of experience at UC Irvine will be of great
benefit to the UCSF-Fresno program," Debas stated.
Stewart is scheduled to begin her new duties as associate dean on June 16. Her academic
appointment is subject to the approval of the Academic Senate.
"I have long-standing family ties to Fresno, and I am truly excited to be here,"
said Stewart. "The UCSF-Fresno program exemplifies the way our country is moving in
medical education for the next millennium. The program clearly has an outstanding and
committed group of faculty who have the skills and vision to continue to develop and
provide exemplary quality health care in the Central Valley," Stewart affirmed.
She succeeds H. John Blossom, who has served as associate dean of the Fresno program since
1992. Blossom will remain with the Fresno program as professor of clinical family and
community medicine and lead new primary care and community oriented programs that are
being developed.
Blossom praised Stewart's appointment, saying, "She is a visionary, highly energetic,
an award-winning teacher, an accomplished health care clinician and an all-around nice
person. I look forward to working with her. The fit with Fresno is great."
In addition to serving as associate dean for medical student affairs at UC Irvine, Stewart
also has the dual roles of associate professor of medicine and obstetrics and gynecology.
Additionally, Stewart is the medical director of the Child Abuse Services Team for Orange
County, and was medical director of the Child Protection Center at Memorial Miller
Children's Hospital in Long Beach.
Stewart's research has centered on child sexual abuse and she is an internationally
recognized expert in the field of child maltreatment and child advocacy.
Stewart has been the recipient of many awards complementing her record of accomplishment
in academia. These awards have included the Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching and
the Children's Friend Award for her work in the area of child abuse. Stewart has been
acknowledged as one of the best doctors in America as published by Woodward/White, Inc.,
and is listed in Who's Who in American Women.
Following a two-year review process, the Fresno program received the highest accreditation
in its history in September 1998. The university program was established by the state
legislature 25 years ago to teach residents and medical students and conduct research in
Valley hospitals, community clinics and medical offices, and provide community service.
It is estimated that more than 40 percent of the doctors practicing in the Valley came
through the residency program of UCSF-Fresno and its predecessors. While it leads the
nation in the richness of its agricultural products, the Valley also has a large
population that is underserved. In addition to a large Hispanic population, it is home to
the world's largest urban population of Hmong.
Links:
UCSF Fresno
Source: Joe Rosato, News Services |
