FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2001

Contact: Brandy Ramos Nikaido
Office (559) 241-7512
Cell (559) 313-6539
brandy.nikaido@ucop.edu

First Hmong doctor to graduate from UCSF-Fresno at historic graduation ceremony

The University of California San Francisco, Fresno Medical Education Program (UCSF-Fresno MEP) will graduate over 60 doctors on June 14-many of whom will stay in Fresno to serve the Valley community. Some 400 people are expected to attend the event at Copper River Country Club, including Peter Yang, MD and the first Hmong doctor to graduate from UCSF-Fresno MEP. According to Yang, he will be the first Hmong physician to practice in Fresno.

Time: 6:30pm to 8pm
Date: Thursday, June 14
Place: Copper River County Club
11500 North Friant Road
Fresno, California

Graduation Highlights include:
Deborah C. Stewart, MD and Associate Dean UCSF-Fresno MEP
· Graduation Address
· Presentation of Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished Service Awards
Kristen Kroeker, MD graduate of UCSF-Fresno in obstetrics/gynecology
· First father/daughter team to both graduate from UCSF-Fresno
Peter Yang, MD graduate of UCSF-Fresno in family medicine
· First Hmong physician to graduate from UCSF-Fresno
Shanna Treanor, MD graduate of UCSF-Fresno in pediatrics
· Chief Resident started Reach Out and Read program in Valley pediatric clinics for lower
income families

Background
Each June, medical students arrive in Fresno eager to begin their medical residency program, lasting anywhere from three to five years. Medical resident specialties offered by UCSF-Fresno include: emergency medicine; pediatrics; family medicine; internal medicine; psychiatry; surgery; and obstetrics/gynecology. Arriving from all corners of the nation and world, more than 50 percent of graduating residents ultimately remain in the Valley. On June 14, UCSF-Fresno will graduate 30 new doctors to care for Valley citizens. Since its inception in 1974, UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program has graduated approximately 60 doctors every year, totaling over 1,600 physicians.

Note: For more information on the day of the event, contact Cara Peracchi Douglas on her mobile phone at 559.288.3257. Otherwise she can be reached at 559.243.3606.

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