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Inaugural CPM Dean’s Lecture will encourage ‘blooming’

by Jeff Malet

February 3, 2016

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Julie A. Freischlag, MD.
Julie A. Freischlag, MD.

The College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) has named UC Davis’ Julie A. Freischlag, MD, as keynote speaker for its inaugural Dean Lawrence B. Harkless Distinguished Lecture, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2016.

Freischlag, Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences and Dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine, will present “Bloom Where You Are Planted.”

Freischlag oversees UC Davis Health System’s academic, research and clinical programs, including the School of Medicine, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the 1,000-member physician practice group, and UC Davis Medical Center.

“Vascular surgery and podiatric medicine and surgery are natural partners in multidisciplinary care for patients at risk for amputations and other complications from diabetes, peripheral artery disease and other diseases,” Freischlag said. “Collaboration between these two specialties – as well as others, such as infectious disease – is critical to patient-centered care.”

Freischlag is one of the most prominent leaders among the nation’s academic health centers. For more than 15 years, she has led education and training programs at top medical schools in her role as professor and chair of surgery and vascular surgery departments. Freischlag also has more than 30 years of experience leading patient-care services as chief of surgery or vascular surgery at nationally ranked hospitals. Before joining UC Davis Health System, she served as professor, chair of the surgery department and surgeon-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. She led initiatives to expand research, add specialty clinical services, improve patient-centered care and patient safety, redesign the surgical training program, and enhance academic career paths for faculty.

Freischlag received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois and a medical degree from Rush University Medical College in Chicago. She completed her surgical residency and vascular fellowship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Lester Jones, DPM, MSEd, executive associate dean for CPM’s Academic Affairs and clinical affairs, was instrumental in suggesting and recruiting Dr. Freischlag to be the inaugural speaker. The two met and worked together at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Harkless’s goal for the annual lecture is to bring leading physicians, surgeons and scientists to the College to convey new ideas to all health care professional students, prospective students, and WesternU faculty, and to inspire the next generation of health care providers.

“Diabetes is a disease that allows podiatry to be part of the health care system, and because she is a vascular surgeon, she’ll share her experience from an interprofessional perspective and team-based medicine,” Harkless said. “Dr. Freischlag understands everyone’s role in the health care delivery system, is a clear leader in vascular surgery, and is leading a medical school.”

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be in Western University of Health Sciences’ Health Education Center, Lecture Hall 1, 701. E. Second Street, Pomona, Calif. 91766.

More information can be found here: http://www.westernu.edu/podiatry/lectures/.

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