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Programs of Bridging Medicine
Advancing Access, Education, Service
Bridging Medicine advances community health through programs that expand access to essential medical care and provide meaningful healthcare education to underserved communities. We also cultivate the next generation of medical professionals by providing mentorship, hands-on experiences, and innovative educational programming that prepare future leaders to serve with compassion and excellence.
Contact us for more information about our programs
SPIRIT Program
Since 1995, the Sacramento Physicians' Initiative to Reach out, Innovate and Teach (SPIRIT) program of the Community Service, Education and Research Fund (CSERF) has worked to increase access to specialty healthcare for underserved residents of our region. The SPIRIT program addresses the healthcare needs of our community’s most vulnerable patients, thereby reducing the strain on hospital emergency services.
Sacramento County Opioid Coalition
The Sacramento County Opioid Coalition was started in 2015 and currently has over 360 members. Members of the governing Executive Committee and of the Coalition include local law enforcement, behavioral health services, physicians, non-profits, and those with lived experience. The Coalition focuses on overdose prevention through naloxone distribution, alongside community education and stigma-reduction efforts.
As the Opioid Epidemic has shifted over time, so too has the work of the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. The Coalition continues to train physicians and medical students on safe prescribing practices, medication-assisted treatment, and stigma reduction. One of the primary activities of the Coalition is distribution of naloxone (Narcan) - a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdose. The Coalition also runs three other programs: naloxone and fentanyl awareness presentations, Hear to Heal support group, and the Gone Too Soon memorial campaign.
Future of Medicine Program
The Future of Medicine program strengthens and diversifies the Sacramento region's healthcare workforce with two (2) weeklong job-shadowing programs in the spring and two (2) three-week preceptorship programs in the summer introducing high school students to various careers in medicine. The program is unique in that it promotes a wide range of healthcare careers, not simply physicians only. In addition to all levels of clinicians, students learn about roles as health administrators, technicians, pharmacists, dentists, public health managers, and mental health providers. The students have ample job-shadowing opportunities and in-depth career exploration through presentations, live activities, field trips, and CPR certification. Job shadowing takes place at multiple locations across the region thanks to partnerships with Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UC Davis Health, and dozens of private practice physicians.
By partnering with more than 50 high schools in the region, Cares has a direct connection with students, counselors, teachers, and parents. Any high school student in the Sacramento region is eligible to apply for this free program and most high schools offer this program for credit. More than 100 students are accepted into the program each year, with 50% coming from designated low-income schools. This program aims to inspire any student interested in any role in healthcare, filling the gaps in all modes and specialties.
Museum of Medical History
The Museum of Medical History (the Museum) is a free, public museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing two centuries of medical history, with thousands of historical artifacts from the Civil War to the present day. Its collections provide Sacramento and surrounding regions with insight into the history of healthcare, advancing an appreciation for modern medicine’s roots. The goals of the Museum include engaging our community, providing knowledge about the evolution of healthcare, and encouraging young people to pursue careers in medicine.
the Museum of Medical History preserves and exhibits artifacts and archives representing the evolution of medicine, both locally and worldwide, over the last two centuries with special emphasis on Northern California and the Gold Rush Era. The Museum’s collections and exhibitions provide our community, especially students, with an understanding of the art and science of health care. The Museum started as a medical library inside of SSVMS’s building. Beginning in 2001, the library was transformed into what is now a museum open to the public. Museum docents contribute 10-15 hours of tours and maintenance per week. The Museum relies on grant funding and donations from the community. There is no cost for admission to the Museum.
Medical Student Scholarship Fund
The Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Student Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to deserving medical school students who have graduated from a high school in El Dorado, Sacramento, or Yolo counties. To date SSVMS has awarded $275,000 since it's inception in 1967.
To be eligible to apply for a grant, students must be enrolled in an accredited American medical school on a full-time basis (12 units or more). This grant does not apply to summer enrollment or to correspondence schools. Applications are accepted annually and must be received by July 1. Scholarships are awarded in September of the same year. Applications are evaluated primarily on the basis of financial need and academic achievement. Financial data will be analyzed according to family/student resources and household size. Given limited funds, not all eligible applicants will be recipients. To apply for a scholarship, students must submit a completed application form, all official high school and college transcripts and three (3) letters of reference to the address below. Letters of reference and transcripts may be mailed separately, but must be received by the July 1 deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Donate today!
Your support of Bridging Medicine expands access to quality care, strengthens healthcare education, and empowers underserved communities to thrive. Together, we can inspire and equip the next generation of medical professionals to build a healthier future for all.
