WHAT:
Nearly 150 students, resident physicians and other health professionals are expected to attend the spring 2013 “Aspiring Health Leaders Conference.” The conference is for Fresno State Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) students and is intended to motivate, guide and prepare them to become the San Joaquin Valley’s future health leaders.
The event is sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research (UCSF LaCMER) and the College of Science and Mathematics at Fresno State.
The Health Careers Opportunity Program provides academic support such as advising, internship opportunities, tutoring, summer programs, and professional development to educationally disadvantaged Fresno State students who are interested in becoming health professionals.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 13
9 - 9:15 a.m. Welcome and introductions 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Keynote speakers
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Workshops
SPEAKERS:
The event kicks off with a welcome by Katherine Flores, MD, director of the UCSF Fresno LaCMER.
Introductions will be made by Fresno State’s Susan Elrod, dean, and Jim Prince, associate dean, of the College of Science and Mathematics.
The conference will feature two keynote speakers. Both are alumni of the Fresno State HCOP.
- Rene Ramirez, MD, Co-Chief Resident, UCSF Fresno Emergency Medicine Residency Program
- Veronica Ramirez, MD, clinical instructor, UCSF Fresno Pediatric Residency Program
Other guest speakers include health professionals from UCSF Fresno residency programs, Fresno State Career Services and the Fresno State Department of Public Health and Career Services. Workshop topics include: U.S. healthcare system and policy reforms, how to write a personal statement for medical school, biochemistry of nutrition and healthy eating, eye diseases, how to apply to health professional schools and other subjects.
WHERE:
Alice Peters Auditorium at the University Business Center (5245 N. Backer) on the California State University, Fresno campus
Background:
Located in Fresno, the Latino Center for Medical Education and Research (LaCMER) is a unit of the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program. The Center addresses the serious shortage of physicians and other health care professionals in the region. The mission of the Center is to develop individuals to become health care professionals who will ultimately return to the San Joaquin Valley and provide culturally competent health care services to the medically underserved. As part of its goal to increase the number of health care professionals in the region, the Center partners with California State University, Fresno’s College of Science and Mathematics in operating the Health Careers Opportunity Program.
UCSF Fresno Medical Education and Research Program, established in 1975, plays a substantial role in providing healthcare services to residents of California's San Joaquin Valley and training medical professionals in the region. The medical education program has trained approximately one-third of Central San Joaquin Valley physicians. Annually, UCSF Fresno currently trains approximately 245 medical residents in eight specialties, 45 fellows in 12 subspecialties and about 250 medical students on a rotating basis.
UCSF Fresno faculty and medical residents engage in a broad spectrum of research addressing health issues pertinent to the Valley. UCSF Fresno faculty and residents also care for the overwhelming majority of the region’s underserved populations. In addition, UCSF Fresno provides academic preparation programs for students interested in the health professions through the Doctors Academy, Junior Doctors Academy and Health Careers Opportunity Program. UCSF Fresno is a key partner in the UC Merced San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education.
UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. For further information, please visit www.fresno.ucsf.edu and http://www.ucsf.edu
