FRESNO – The UCSF Fresno Sunnyside High School Doctors Academy will honor its fifth graduating class on Tuesday, May 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Theater on the Sunnyside High School campus, located at 1019 S. Peach Avenue, at the corner of Peach and Kings Canyon, in Fresno. More than 400 family members, friends and other guests will attend the ceremony.
“The class of 2007 is an amazing group of students who have proven their academic excellence in addition to participating in numerous extra-curricular activities during their four years of high school,” said Katherine A. Flores, M.D., director of the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, which sponsors the Academy. “I am very proud of these students and look forward to their return to the Valley where they will provide much needed health care to our underserved communities.”
All Doctors Academy graduates will attend college in the fall. Twenty-two of the 35 graduates will attend University of California campuses, nine will attend California State University, Fresno, and the remaining four students will go on to other CSU campuses or private colleges. Many are the first in their family to attend college.
Five graduates will receive the UCSF School of Medicine Merit Award for their academic achievement, commitment in the program, and continued interest in a career in medicine. The special recognition provides the students with consideration for early admission to UCSF SOM. All five have met the pre-entry requirements and demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to pursuing careers in the health professions.
“The Wildcat Family is proud to present our Class of 2007 Doctors Academy scholars,” said Sunnyside High School Principal Sheryl Weaver. “The students are an incredible group of young adults who have worked hard academically as well as provided volunteer service to the Fresno community. We are in good hands with these amazing students and future health care professionals.”
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. The program has grown in popularity and scope in the past seven years. A Junior Doctors Academy Program was established in 2000 to encourage and support middle school students interested in health and medicine. The Doctors Academy Program currently has 159 students enrolled. The UCSF Fresno Latino Center continues to support and work closely with Fresno Unified School District to sustain the program at Sunnyside High School and provide health career opportunities for qualifying students. For more details, please contact Diana Cantu at 559-253-6715 or 559-241-7670 or email [email protected]
