UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways will celebrate the graduation of 65 students from its Doctors Academy (DA) programs at Sunnyside and Caruthers high schools on May 19 and May 21, respectively.
Thirty students will receive diplomas from the Caruthers High School program, and 35 students will graduate from the Sunnyside High School program.
All the UCSF Fresno DA graduates will continue their education at post-secondary institutions (approximately 94%) or enlist in military service (approximately 6%) in the fall of 2026. Over 40% of the graduates will enter a University of California campus with approximately 55% pursuing their undergraduate education in the San Joaquin Valley.
Sunnyside High School DA End-of-Year Awards Ceremony:
Tuesday, May 19
6 to 8 p.m.
Sunnyside High School, Gymnasium
1019 S. Peach Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
Contact: Marisol Vargas, Academic Program Coordinator, [email protected]
Caruthers High School DA End-of-Year Awards Ceremony:
Thursday, May 21
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Caruthers High School Gymnasium
2580 W. Tahoe Ave, Caruthers, CA 93609
Contact: Samantha Gonzales, Academic Program Coordinator, [email protected]
SJV PRIME+ Admission: Two students admitted to SJV PRIME+ will be recognized by representatives from UC Merced during the event held at Caruthers High School. They are the third and fourth students accepted from Caruthers High School, a rural school with a population of under 700 students.
Recipients of the following awards will be recognized or announced during these events:
Gates Scholarship: A student from Sunnyside High School received the prestigious Gates Scholarship. The student, one of 750 scholars nationwide, was selected for the award that will help cover remaining university costs.
Health Careers Connection (HCC) Merit: Recipients of the HCC merit award will be announced during the ceremonies. These students secured a paid health-focused internship locally during one summer of their college or postbaccalaureate years, enhancing their competitiveness for professional schools.
Westly Foundation Scholarship: In support of enriching opportunities for students, the Westly Foundation is generously funding a total of $12,000 in scholarships for Doctors Academy seniors. Twenty-four scholarships of $500 via a one-time donation for Doctors Academy students will be awarded, with 12 scholarships allocated per program site intended to cover college transition expenses.
Also, DA students who completed more than 100 hours of community service will be honored during their ceremonies with a community service medal for not only their participation in service learning, but also the lasting difference they continue to make in the communities they serve.
BACKGROUND:
The UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways (OHCP) serves as the outreach arm to K-16 students for UCSF Fresno. In 1999, in collaboration with Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) and Fresno County Office of Education, UCSF Fresno initiated the Sunnyside High School Doctors Academy to encourage students to pursue careers in health and medicine. To date, more than 1,200 graduates have completed the program, and many are now physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, mental health professionals, and health educators.
OHCP aims to address the shortage of health care professionals in the San Joaquin Valley by providing academic support, enrichment and mentoring for students interested in providing care for Valley communities. The Doctors Academy and Junior Doctors Academy significantly boost college readiness with a 100% four-year college acceptance rate among graduates.
OHCP remains committed to sustaining these programs and collaborating with Caruthers and Fresno Unified School districts to provide health career opportunities for admitted students. UCSF Fresno OHCP programming is currently funded 100% by contracts with local school districts and outside grants that support its mission to provide health pathway programs to San Joaquin Valley students.
For more information on health pathway programs offered through OHCP, please contact Stephanie Huerta Alvarez, Manager, [email protected]
Established in 1975, UCSF Fresno is a regional campus of the UCSF School of Medicine. UCSF Fresno provides training in eight medical residency programs, one dental surgery residency program and several 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.
