Check out the April newsletter!

Our April 2013 edition of the monthly Combined Program newsletter is out! This month: a Q&A on "Why Combined?" from Kristy, Dorothy & Andrea went to Balint leader training, and Andrea represented the combos at the LMSA-West conference. Check it out over on the newsletter page.

Dr. Andrea Gallardo represents the UCSD combined program at LMSA-West

Dr. Andrea Gallardo, one of our third-year residents, recently represented the UCSD Combined Program at the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) West annual conference, which was held right here at UCSD School of Medicine this year. Andrea (second from right in this picture) participated in a panel featuring residents from several specialties, sharing her experiences as a combined resident with pre-meds and medical students. In addition to mentoring and career planning sessions, the conference also featured seminars on Latino health disparities, a residency fair, and a gala to celebrate the graduating medical student members of LMSA. We are proud that Andrea was there to represent our program!

A Big Welcome to Our New 2013 Combined Interns!

Safi Ahmed was born in Houston, Texas but has spent a great portion of his life in Boston.  He attended the University of Massachusetts Medical School after completing his undergraduate studies in child development and community health, and a masters in public health--both from Tufts University.  Safi is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.  One of his greatest passions is teaching and this is certainly emphasized by his work with the Peace Corps (South Africa), Unicef (India), and AmeriCorps (Boston).  Some of Safi's hobbies include yoga, cooking, photography, and travel.  In addition to his native English, Safi also speaks Bantu, Spanish and Urdu.

Aaron Meyer is originally from Springfield, Illinois-a city with great history.  Aaron attended Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where he also obtained his undergraduate degree in philosophy.  His impressive list of memberships include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Association of Medicine and Psychiatry, and the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians.  His volunteer experiences are just as impressive, including working at a homeless shelter in Tacoma, Washington, and numerous community outreach programs in Saint Louis, MO. Hiking, bicycling, and independent films are some of his hobbies . . . not to mention his love of Sunday brunch!!

Our program is honored to welcome these two amazing physicians into our combined family! Welcome home!! We all very much look forward to the next five years!

Congratulations to Father Joe Carroll, recipient of 2013 Citizen Service Before Self Honor!

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today announced that Father Joe Carroll will receive a Citizen Service Before Self Honor. Father Joe is among only four other Americans to be selected for their selflessness and indomitable courage after a nationwide search and selection process.  

The recipients were selected because their actions epitomize the concept of “service before self” and have been performed “above and beyond” their professional area of responsibility or conduct.

For more than three decades, Father Joe Carroll selflessly and tirelessly served the San Diego community and beyond. In that time, he was the voice of, and advocate for, the homeless population throughout Southern California. When he first became president of St. Vincent de Paul Center in 1982, it was a small operation with a daily lunch line and thrift store. But Father Joe had a larger vision in mind: an organization that provided all the services a neighbor would need to transition from life on the streets to stable housing and independence.

Today, Father Joe’s Villages is Southern California’s largest homeless services provider. In April of 2011, after nearly 30 years as President and CEO, and on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Father Joe Carroll retired, transitioning to the title of President Emeritus.

"Father Joe’s contributions toward bettering the lives of our neighbors in need are truly immeasurable," said Sister Tricia Cruise, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages. "This organization is now and will always remain committed to carrying on his great legacy."

Citizen Service Before Self Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes—the fewer than 80 living Medal of Honor recipients who comprise the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Medal recipients will present the citizen honorees with their awards at this special ceremony on March 25, 2013. At the ceremony, each honoree will receive a Citizen Service Before Self Honors medal and an embossed certificate signed by the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The ceremony will be held near the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

How We Serve the Homeless

This outstanding brief video gives a glimpse of the community we work in at St Vincent de Paul Village: