Four years ago, Bryan Contreras didn’t know that becoming an orthopedic surgeon was a career he could pursue.
Today, the Caruthers High School senior has a clear vision for his future. After graduating in June 2027, he hopes to attend a university and medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
The difference began with an introduction to the world of health care. As an eighth grader, Contreras sat among dozens of students in his school cafeteria when representatives from the UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways (OHCP) introduced them to health careers and programs designed to help students pursue them, including the Doctors Academy.
For Contreras, the presentation opened a door he didn’t know was there.
“I’ve been able to visit more colleges than I ever thought I’d be able to,” Contreras said. “They taught us how to do a research project, and I had an internship at a local hospital, which I never thought I’d have. I followed Dr. (Antonio) Toribio and it was really interesting and fun.”
Through the Doctors Academy, Contreras has explored health careers, strengthened his critical-thinking skills and developed the college-bound mindset needed to pursue a career in medicine.
The four-year, school-within-a-school program, was created by Katherine A. Flores, MD, to help high school students interested in health careers see a future for themselves in medicine and other health professions.
Students receive rigorous coursework in math, science and writing, along with academic counseling, professional development, exposure to health care professionals, observerships and other experiences designed to prepare them for higher education and health professional schools.
But for many students, the impact of the program extends beyond academics. It is about having someone show them what is possible.
That was the experience of Patrick Ramirez.
A Path Forward
Long before he became division president of the provider network at Community Health System, Ramirez was a college student who wasn’t sure he belonged there.
During his second year of college, he was ready to leave college and join the U.S. Air Force. Then he attended a university event where he met Flores.
“As a first-generation college student, I often felt out of place and struggled to navigate and unfamiliar environment,” Ramirez said. “I didn’t have a roadmap and was still learning how to approach college academically. But Dr. Flores created an environment and support system that helped students like me find their footing. I went from seriously considering dropping out to gaining the confidence, direction, and skills I needed to succeed.”
Flores had created more than an academic program. She had built a network of resources, mentorship, and support designed to help students navigate college and envision themselves in health care careers.
For Ramirez, that support was transformative.
“I suddenly had a group around me who was on the same career path, and it changed everything for me,” he said. His academic trajectory also changed.
“I went from having a GPA that put me on academic probation to a GPA that put me on the president’s list,” Ramirez said. “It really changed my entire life.
After graduating from Fresno State, Ramirez attended UC Berkeley and stayed in the Bay Area working at UCSF in ambulatory administration in the pediatric specialty division. In 2014, he returned home and joined Community Health System, where he now oversees its provider network, including the medical foundation, Community Health Partners, and its network of clinics and physicians.
Through it all, he continues to recognize the influence Flores had on his life.
Paying It Forward
When Flores retired from UCSF Fresno in June 2025, Ramirez had an opportunity to honor the mentor who had helped change the direction of his life.
This year, Community Regional Medical Center made a $25,000 gift to the UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways in honor of Flores. The gift will support pathway programs such as the Doctors Academy and help provide opportunities for future generations of students interested in health careers.
For Ramirez, helping secure the gift was an honor. “Having the opportunity to support Dr. Flores and the incredible work she does is deeply personal to me,” he said. “I’ve experienced firsthand the difference she makes in the lives of students and the communities we serve. The fact that Community Health System recognizes the importance of her work and is investing in its future makes this gift even more meaningful.”
Ramirez said Flores’ work aligns with Community Health System’s commitment to improving health and moving the region forward.
“Our CEO, Craig Wagner, has established a vision for Community Health System centered around The Cause—a commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” Ramirez said. “The work Dr. Flores is doing directly aligns with that vision. By investing in students, creating opportunities, and developing future leaders, we are not only changing individual lives but also helping move our health system and the entire region forward.”
The gift represents more than financial support. It is part of a cycle that began when Flores invested in students like Ramirez and continues today through students like Contreras.
Building the Next Generation
OHCP Department Manager, Stephanie Huerta Alvarez, knows that the impact of investing in students may not be immediately visible. She is also an alumnus of the Doctors Academy program and now oversees the program that invested so much in her journey.
“The investments we make now will have fruitful outcomes five to 10 years from now,” she said.
Her hope is that pathway programs will continue to receive the support they need while adapting to the changing health care environment. “My hope is that these programs will continue to have support from stakeholders and funders while simultaneously being adaptable to the changing environment,” Huerta Alvarez said.
For students like Contreras, that investment can be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to health care and to the communities that helped them get there.
Contreras already knows what he hopes to do when he becomes a physician: give back.
“Once I become an orthopedic surgeon, I will return the favor by using the money that I’ve earned and donating back to the program to continue the cycle,” he said. “I hope to see more students become successful and become doctors like I will.”
It’s a vision that captures the lasting impact of Flores’ work: a mentored student, who goes on to help another, creating a ripple effect that can extend across generations of future health care professionals in the San Joaquin Valley.
