Liliana Samano, MD, knew from an early age that she wanted to become a doctor. It was a childhood dream. Growing up in Fresno, there were few Latino physicians, and she often served as an interpreter for her parents.
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, in 2022, about 6% of physicians in California were Latino where the Hispanic/Latino population is about 39%. As a child, Dr. Samano understood that by becoming a physician, she could help make health care more accessible in her community. With her parents as inspiration, she set out on the path to become a physician.
She graduated from Edison High School, attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a medical degree from the UC Davis School of Medicine as part of the UC San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education.
This year, Dr. Samano is completing a four-year residency training program in Emergency Medicine and will be among 100 doctors graduating from UCSF Fresno.
Finishing residency training is a point of pride.
“Life doesn’t stop during residency, and I made it through personal and professional challenges with the support of my loved ones,” Dr. Samano said.
The day-to-day variety, the ability to make quick connections with many patients each day, and the teamwork-based environment are reasons why she chose Emergency Medicine.
“The emergency department is a place full of joy, sadness, and everything in between, and some patient experiences will stay with me forever,” she said.
When not working, Dr. Samano enjoys spending time with family and her two dogs. She also enjoys cooking, gardening, running in her neighborhood, and watching Bravo TV.
After graduation, Dr. Samano will work in the Emergency Department at Clovis Community Medical Center.
When asked if there was anything she wanted to add, Dr. Samano, said, “Si se pudo,” which translates loosely to “It was possible.”
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.
