FRESNO – Today (March 20) medical school graduates in Fresno and across the nation received emails simultaneously that 
revealed where they will spend the next several years conducting the postgraduate training (residency training) necessary to practice medicine in the United States. The event is called Match Day and occurs every year in March. Many institutions, including UCSF Fresno, typically hold Match Day celebrations where medical school graduates open envelopes at the same time. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, UCSF Fresno held virtual events to prevent and reduce the spread of the virus.
“We may not be gathering as we typically would, but Match Day is a momentous occasion nonetheless,” said Michael W. Peterson, MD, associate dean at UCSF Fresno. “It’s the time when medical school graduates learn where they will spend the next three to seven years fine tuning the skills necessary prior to practicing medicine independently.”
“The current situation prevents us from celebrating with the fourth-year medical students who were training with us, but this year is consistent with the past in terms of learning the identities of the incoming residents or interns. We receive a list of names and we meet the individuals when they start training at UCSF Fresno this coming June.”
Eight UC Davis San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) medical students pursued residency programs this year. The students include:
- Jose Acosta is from Madera and a graduate of Fresno State
- David Araiza is from Stockton and a graduate of UC Merced
- Tyler Carcamo is from Belize and Bakersfield and a graduate of California State University, Bakersfield
- Brandon Croft is from Visalia and a graduate of Fresno Pacific University
- Sydnie Espiritu is from Delano and a graduate of UCLA
- Lorena Garcia is from McFarland and a graduate of Duke University
- Daisy Manzo is from Modesto and a graduate of UC Davis
- Enid Picart is from Modesto and a graduate of UC Merced
All eight of the UC Davis SJV PRIME students matched with University of California-affiliated residencies and will be staying in California to provide much needed care. Two will be staying on at UCSF Fresno – Enid Picart matched with emergency medicine and Brandon Croft matched with internal medicine. David Araiza matched at San Joaquin General Hospital Family Medicine in his hometown of Stockton.
“An aim of San Joaquin Valley PRIME is to train physicians for our underserved region and to increase the diversity of the physician workforce,” said Kenny Banh, MD, assistant dean for undergraduate medical education at UCSF Fresno. “It’s incredibly rewarding to know that three of the graduates will be staying in the San Joaquin Valley and two are staying on at UCSF Fresno. All will be providing high-quality, accessible care. We congratulate them and wish them well in their residency training.”
As part of the Match Day process, medical school graduates typically register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The NRMP utilizes a mathematical algorithm to place applicants into residency and fellowship positions. Medical school graduates then begin residency training, usually in June or July, at the hospital or program where they “matched.” A similar “match” occurs for fellows and sub-specialty training each year in December.
The UCSF Fresno residency programs that participated in the NRMP match received 8,378 applications and conducted 1,146 interviews for 71 positions, filling all available residency positions. UCSF Fresno fellowship programs that took part in the October/December NRMP match received 1,357 applications and conducted 224 interviews for 19 positions. Non NRMP programs filled available positions through another matching service or through interviews and offers. The UCSF Fresno Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program received 187 applications and conducted 20 interviews for 5 available spots.
UCSF Fresno currently offers residency training in eight medical specialties, one oral and maxillofacial surgery dental residency, fellowship training in 18 medical sub-specialties and three residency programs for physician assistants.
SJV PRIME BACKGROUND: The San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) represents the sixth program in the University of California’s programs in medical education. The program prepares medical students to be excellent clinicians and patient advocates for underserved communities, especially in the San Joaquin Valley. The training program is designed to prepare medical students to address the unique health needs of the region’s diverse and underserved populations. It was established in 2010 as a partnership among the UC Davis School of Medicine, UC Merced, UCSF Fresno and the UCSF School of Medicine. The first class of students started in 2011.
Currently, there are 32 students in SJV PRIME, with the majority coming from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. With strong Valley connections, SJV PRIME students call the region home. Including this year’s graduating class, SJV PRIME will have graduated six cohorts for a total of 39 graduates who are currently conducting residency training or will be starting residency.
In July 2018, the UCSF School of Medicine received approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to establish UCSF Fresno as a branch medical campus to lead SJV PRIME. Six students were admitted to the new UCSF SJV PRIME and started in the fall of 2019. Students enrolled in the program spend 18 months at UCSF in San Francisco and then move to Fresno for the remainder of their medical school training. Acceptance offer letters are being extended now to students who will represent the second cohort of students in UCSF SJV PRIME. The goal is to admit 12 students who will start this coming August.
