WHO:
Sixty-three students will graduate this June from the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy programs at Caruthers, Selma and Sunnyside high schools. Thirteen students make up the graduating Doctors Academy class at Caruthers. Fifteen will graduate from the program at Selma and 35 will graduate from the program at Sunnyside High School.
All of the students will continue their education at post-secondary institutions in the fall. Sixty (93 percent) of the graduates will attend a four-year university. Twenty-one students will continue their education at California State University, Fresno. Thirty will attend University of California campuses. The remaining students will attend other CSU campuses, private universities and colleges or local community colleges.
WHAT:
Awards ceremonies will be held at each of the Doctors Academy campuses to honor the graduates. Recipients of the following awards will be announced:
- UCSF School of Dentistry Pre-Dental Scholars Award: This award offers Academy students an interview for the UCSF School of Dentistry upon completion of undergraduate course work and admission requirements
- UCSF School of Medicine Scholars Award: This award offers Academy students special consideration for early admission to graduate school based on their continued interest in a career in medicine and upon meeting the admissions requirements
- UCSF School of Pharmacy Early Conditional Acceptance Award: This award grants students an interview for the UCSF School of Pharmacy upon completion of successful undergraduate course work and admission requirements.
Select students also will receive scholarships from local community sponsors who have continued to support the students and their academic accomplishments and service to the community.
“Thanks to the support, dedication and commitment from our school sites and community partners, we are able to provide students with a multitude of services and opportunities,” said Katherine A. Flores, director of the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research. “It is because of these successful partnerships that the Doctors Academy students continue to excel. We are very proud of all of our students and grateful for our partners and their continued support.”
WHEN AND WHERE:
Thursday, May 9
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Caruthers High School Gymnasium 2580 W. Tahoe Street, Caruthers
Wednesday, May 15
6 – 7 p.m.
Selma High School Dining Hall 3125 Wright Street, Selma
Monday, May 20
6 – 7:30 pm
Sunnyside High School Theater 1019 S. Peach Avenue, Fresno
BACKGROUND:
The UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, in partnership with Fresno Unified School District and Fresno County Office of Education, started the Sunnyside High School Doctors Academy in 1999 as a pilot program to encourage educationally disadvantaged students to focus on careers in health and medicine. A Junior Doctors Academy Program was established in 2000 to encourage and support students earlier in their academic career as middle school students. The Doctors Academy program has grown in popularity and scope in the past ten years. The Sunnyside Doctors Academy Program currently has 159 students enrolled.
In 2007, Doctors Academy programs were established at Caruthers and Selma high schools. A total of 84 students are enrolled at Caruthers High School and 85 are enrolled at Selma High School. The UCSF Fresno Latino Center continues to support and work closely with Caruthers, Selma and Fresno Unified School Districts to sustain these programs and provide health career opportunities for qualifying students.
In 2009, the Latino Center partnered with California State University, Fresno to re-establish the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) with the College of Science and Mathematics.
Currently, more than 100 students are enrolled in that program.
For more information about the Doctors Academy or the UCSF Fresno Latino Center’s other health professions programs, please contact Bertha Dominguez, education director, at 559-241-7670 or email bdomi[email protected]
