Dr. Prem Reddy committed more than $60 million to the Medical school

White coats ready for the future: New CUSM School of Medicine welcomes inaugural class SAN BERNARDINO — The California University of Science and Medicine, School of Medicine recently welcomed its inaugural class of 60 future physicians during a special ceremony.

The medical students took the Hippocratic Oath and received their first white coats during a “White Coat Ceremony” on Sunday at Pomona College’s Bridges Hall of Music in Claremont.

The event came as the students prepare to start medical school classes this month at the new school that was funded and established by Prime Healthcare Foundation and its founder Dr. Prem Reddy, who committed more than $60 million to the school.

The president of the Association of American Medical Colleges Dr. Darrell G. Kirch delivered the keynote address, with Reddy also sharing his thoughts with the students.

“Medicine gives you the unique and sacred opportunity to be part of others’ lives. Often at the greatest time of need,” said Reddy. CUSM’s founder and chairman of the school’s board of trustees. “It is an intimate and profound relationship. And no matter how much health care and the world changes, you will always have the chance to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Reddy added that the world will always need “compassion, hope, humanity and goodness,” and that he and many medical professionals believe that medicine has the ability to “change lives and therefore change the world.”

“We are honored to support your dreams, your future in medicine and, most importantly, your commitment to giving,” Reddy said. “We wish you the best of luck.”

Reddy also shared a bit of his life story, which included growing up in a small rural village in Southern India where his family did not have the luxury of electricity or potable water.

“I was the first in many generations to go to school, let alone medical school. This has to be one of the best stories of the American dream come true,” Reddy said. “I credit this entirely to this mightiest nation on earth of immigrants. With boundless opportunities and extreme tolerance. May God bless these United States of America.”

During the ceremony, CUSM Dean Dr. Robert Suskind explained how the white coat symbolizes a student’s lifetime responsibility as a compassionate physician who, above all, listens, thinks carefully and comes to medical decisions based solely on science and objective professional expertise.

“Every student here today has the potential to become a great physician,” Suskind said.

“That’s why the CUSM faculty was so pleased to offer them the opportunity to come here as members of the student body. It is also why we feel it is an honor to serve as their teachers and mentors. It’s not just for them. It is for the future of humanity.”

As a group, the CUSM incoming class holds an outstanding average MCAT percentile ranking of 89 percent and are in the top quartile of their respective graduating classes from top universities in the nation.

“Our new school will have a lasting impact not only on the current shortage of physicians and limited medical school slots in our state, but also on the wellness of those in our community and, through our global sharing, potentially around the world,” said Dr. Dev GnanaDev, founding president of CUSM. “The medical school’s affiliation with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Prime Healthcare provides an exceptional clinical training ground for future physicians. I thank Dr. Reddy, Prime Healthcare Foundation, the County of San Bernardino and our talented faculty for making all of this possible.”

The current temporary CUSM School of Medicine campus is located at 217 E. Club Center Drive in San Bernardino. For more information, visit www.calmedu.org

Erica