FRESNO – The UCSF Fresno Sunnyside High School Doctors Academy will honor its fourth graduating class Tuesday, May 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Theater on the Sunnyside High School campus ( 1019 S. Peach Ave.) in Fresno.
All 32 of the graduating seniors in the Doctors Academy Program will continue their education at institutions of higher education this fall. Fourteen will attend University of California campuses, seven will attend California State University, Fresno and the remaining students will enroll at community or private colleges. Many are the first in their families to attend college.
“The class of 2006 is made up of an outstanding group of students who have raised the bar for all future students,” said Katherine A. Flores, MD, director of the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, which sponsors the Academy. “We wish them continued success as they transition to the next phase of their studies and we look forward to them eventually returning to the Central Valley to provide health services to their community.”
Sunnyside High School Principal Sheryl Weaver also praised the students for their demonstrated commitment to their studies, the community and the ‘Wildcat family.’
Earlier this spring, the UCSF School of Medicine recognized five of the graduating seniors with the UCSF Merit Scholar Award. 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 commitment to pursuing careers in the health professions.
Recipients of the award and the universities they plan to attend are: Jessica Dunn, UC Berkeley; Robin Jugao, UC Davis; Melissa Medina, Fresno State; Anna Tretyakov, Fresno State; and Chong Yang, UC Davis.
“I plan to serve my community by tutoring and mentoring students,” said Jugao, 17. “As a Doctors Academy student, I was granted job shadow and internship experience with local health professionals who have inspired me to give back.”
“After my participation in the Doctors Academy clinical internship and research program last summer, I saw the big need here in the Central Valley,” said Medina, 18.
The UCSF Fresno Latino Center, in partnership with Fresno Unified School District and the Fresno County Office of Education started the Doctors Academy in 1999 as a pilot program to encourage educationally disadvantaged students to pursue careers in health and medicine. The program has grown in scope and popularity, with 153 students currently enrolled. In 2000, a Junior Doctors Academy Program was established to provide middle school students with similar educational enrichment opportunities.
For more information, contact Diana Cantu, Doctors Academy program coordinator at (559) 253- 6715 or (559) 241-7670 or email [email protected]
