While serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, Delvin J. Akins II, MD, found deep purpose in caring for others in high-stakes situations. He was promoted six times in seven years in the military, served as a staff sergeant leading other combat medics and was a Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year candidate. But becoming a physician felt out of reach. Thankfully, senior leaders recognized his commitment and discipline and encouraged him to take his training further.
Today, Dr. Akins is among approximately 100 residents and fellows who are completing training at UCSF Fresno and graduating. UCSF Fresno will celebrate the Class of 2025 and commemorate our 50th anniversary tonight (June 12).
Dr. Akins is completing a four-year residency program in Emergency Medicine and after graduation, he will join the Emergency Medicine faculty at UCSF Fresno at Community Regional Medical Center as part of Inspire Health Medical Group.
Military experiences cemented his decision to pursue medicine and gave him the confidence to walk a path not taken by many sharing his background, Dr. Akins said.
He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, in a small corner of Los Angeles, and graduated from Canoga Park High School. He enlisted in the Army at 18 and completed his first undergraduate degree, a bachelor’s in psychology, while on active duty. Later, he earned a second degree, a bachelor’s in general science, while completing pre-med requirements at Portland State University and went on to earn a medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University.
The biggest challenge as a nontraditional student was navigating a system that was unfamiliar in every way — academically, professionally, and culturally. Mentorship helped motivate him.
“I didn’t come from a background where college, let alone medical school, was the norm. I relied on mentors, persistence, and an unshakable belief in the purpose of my journey to move forward,” Dr. Akins said.
Emergency Medicine felt like a natural extension of his military background.
“I thrive in high-pressure, fast-paced environments where decisive action makes a difference,” he said. “The challenge and variety of EM continues to inspire me.”
According to Dr. Akins, the scope and depth of his emergency medicine training at UCSF Fresno is unmatched.
“I often share stories with medical school friends and realize just how exceptional the clinical experience is at UCSF Fresno,” he said. “The camaraderie and mentorship here have shaped who I am as a physician.”
In his spare time, Dr. Akins produces music, watches sports, and swings a golf club when he can.
He says raising three boys while pursuing medicine is his greatest achievement. And he is proud to be the first in his family to graduate college and the first in his extended family to become a physician.
“I’m honored to be staying on as faculty with our department,” said Dr. Akins. “It’s a privilege to give back to a place that’s given me so much.”
Established in 1975, UCSF Fresno is celebrating 50 years of training doctors and improving health in the San Joaquin Valley this year. A regional campus of the UCSF School of Medicine, UCSF Fresno offers training in eight medical residency programs, one dental surgery residency program and 20 Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and non-ACGME sub-specialty fellowships. UCSF Fresno plays a vital role in expanding access to health care in the Valley, training physicians and medical students for the region and state, conducting research that addresses regional health issues, and academically preparing students from the San Joaquin Valley to pursue careers in health and medicine.
