The UCSF Fresno Summer Biomedical Internship Program was established in 1988 to provide a quality biomedical research experience for high school students—the first of its kind in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The program matches high school students, in the summer between their junior and senior year of high school, with faculty members who have or are developing a research project. In the last thirty-five years, over two hundred and fifty students have participated in the SBI program and many of them are finishing their medical residencies, are working in the biomedicine or biotechnical industries, or are in medical school or doctorate programs at various universities.
Students are chosen each year based on their scholastic abilities. Applications are accepted from a six county area: Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kings. The number of students coincides with the number of faculty available to work with a student. The faculty member, his or her staff and the SBI student work daily on this project for 6 – 7 weeks. Additionally, there are opportunities for field trips for the group to visit each other’s project site, tour local hospitals and medical facilities, listen to various speakers and participate in discussions with residents. Students also may view surgery and will visit the main campus of UCSF in San Francisco for a tour of various research laboratories. This program is designed to enhance the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the biomedical sciences while introducing them to a possible career in the healthcare professions.
