• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Thursday, October 31, 1996

Polsfuss continues long streak of UCLA med students to earn the Franklin C. McLean awardBy Kathryn Combs

Daily Bruin Contributor

Does working 12 hours a day sound like fun? To Gary Polsfuss, a fourth-year Chicano medical student, this is just par for the course.

But, Polsfuss' 12-hour shifts finally paid off. He recently received one of the oldest and most prestigious medical student awards, the Franklin C. McLean award.

The Franklin C. McLean award aims to recognize excellent minority students studying to become doctors. The award was established in 1968 in memory of renowned bone physiologist, Franklin McLean who founded the National Medical Fellowship, Inc. (NMF).

Polsfuss is the 12th UCLA student since 1978 to be recognized with this distinction.

Polsfuss said that when he was named top minority medical student, he was shocked but felt that it was an honor to be able to represent UCLA nationally.

"I think that it's important to honor those who have excelled and also those who show commitment to their community ... I see myself as more of a role model now than I ever have," Polsfuss said.

Polsfuss, 25, has a long history of service to the community. During the 1992 Northridge earthquake, he was a volunteer for the Red Cross, providing medical relief to disaster victims. Polsfuss is also an active member of numerous groups such as the Chicano Medical Student Association and the Admissions sub-committee for disadvantaged applicants.

"He is an excellent academic achiever and has done very much for the UCLA community and for medically underserved areas of Los Angeles through his volunteer efforts," said Fran Kissel, Administrative Analyst for Medical Student Affairs.

The National Medical Fellowship selects one winner annually using criteria such as overall ability and aptitude, achievements during medical school and extracurricular activities. Candidates can be nominated by professors or doctors.

Polsfuss was nominated for the award by Dr. Neil Parker, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Affairs.

This is the second year in a row that a UCLA senior medical student has received the award.

"He's an outstanding candidate and an under represented minority ... he's done extremely well at UCLA and has distinguished himself on our national exams showing us that he's at the very top," Parker said.

"He fulfilled what we thought would be competitive with other schools ... They're looking for an individual who shows their outstanding achievements in many realms," he added.

Polsfuss, originally from West Covina, will soon complete his eighth year at UCLA. He entered as an undergraduate biology major in 1989. After completing four years, he received his B.A. and entered into the UCLA School of Medicine the following Fall quarter.

Polsfuss plans to specialize in Emergency Medicine. He says it is the comprehensive nature of emergency medicine that attracts him to it.

"Emergency medicine affords me the opportunity to work with many different people, young and old, from a wide range of ethnicities, with both serious and non-acute problems ... working with many different problems has always interested me." Polsfuss said.

On Nov. 7, the National Medical Foundation, in conjunction with the American Association of Medical Colleges, will hold a conference in San Francisco to honor Polsfuss as national top minority medical student.

STEVE KIM/Daily Bruin

Gary Polsfuss was named the top minority medical student in the country with the Franklin C. McLean award.