Partnership with Kaiser Permanente to Develop Physician Leaders - Richard Isaacs MD

Drexel’s College of Medicine has partnered with Kaiser Permanente in California to help ensure a strong physician workforce for the future and to further develop emerging health care leaders for the Sacramento region.

This summer, as many as 16 third-year medical students from the College of Medicine will begin a year of clinical rotations at Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Sacramento, South Sacramento, Roseville and Vallejo.

The medical students will do rotations in pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, outpatient psychiatry, family medicine and adult medicine.

"Drexel University College of Medicine represents a longstanding commitment to excellence in medical education and Kaiser Permanente embraces this opportunity to partner with their faculty in bringing top-notch emerging physicians to the Sacramento region. We know that many of these students will choose to live and practice right here in our own community," said Dr. Richard Isaacs, physician-in-chief, South Sacramento.

"We're delighted to have our students participate in this partnership program and have the opportunity to learn about the unique model of care at Kaiser Permanente," said Dr. Barbara Schindler, professor and vice dean for educational and academic affairs for the College of Medicine.

Premed students attending the Drexel campus in Sacramento have already had opportunities to observe Kaiser Permanente's model of care through a unique 10-week physician shadowing program that was started in March 2011. Drexel's Interdepartmental Medical Science program is one of very few such programs in the country. This is the first time the program was taught outside of Philadelphia.

"Our physicians are really excited about welcoming and training this first group of medical students who are expected to arrive in late June and begin their clinical rotations on July 1st," said Dr. Lisa Liu, South Sacramento's assistant physician-in-chief of health promotion who is spearheading the training program. "It's a great opportunity to expose medical students to the power and integration of Kaiser Permanente and to showcase how we truly are the model for health care in this country."

Kaiser Permanente and Drexel are also proud to co-sponsor the Sacramento Metro Chamber's 2013 study mission, taking place this September in Philadelphia.