UCSF Fresno’s success and growth are a direct result of the dedication and inspiration of our faculty, staff, residents, fellows, students, alumni, partners, donors and friends. In each issue of Focus on UCSF Fresno, we introduce you to the people who contribute to the greatness of UCSF Fresno.
Antonio Toribio, MD, a UCSF Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, was born in Mexico and grew up in the San Joaquin Valley laboring alongside his parents in farm fields. The experience helped shape his decision to become a physician and to make his medical career in Fresno.
“I grew up here since I was three and went to school here. Since I was little, I worked in the fields with my parents, then the swap meet and then Burger King,” said Dr. Toribio. “One of the things that my parents always told me was, when you grow up make sure you get a job indoors. That was a big thing for them.”
His parents were always supportive and encouraging, although Dr. Toribio says they didn't really understand the medical field and the pathway to becoming a doctor and as a result, he had to explore the field on his own.
“At a young age, I think I really understood the need that this town has, and I love the town. Growing up, I heard that the number of doctors that we have here is low, so in high school, I started looking into the career as something for me and knew that if I did become a doctor, my plan was to come back here,” said Dr. Toribio.
He graduated from Sanger High School, received his undergraduate degree from Fresno State, and a master’s degree at Texas A&M University. His next goal was medical school. He wanted to become a doctor to help the Hispanic population in a hospital or clinic. He had heard about UCSF Fresno before heading to medical school and knew that’s where he wanted to be.
Dr. Toribio received his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. In 2015, he matched to his number one residency program in the Department of Medicine at UCSF Fresno.
“Match day, I was really happy and excited that we were going back home and that everything was coming together finally. As cliché as it sounds, if I did it, you can do it,” said Dr. Toribio.
Dr. Toribio joined the UCSF faculty of UCSF Fresno following residency and is an Associate Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine specializing in hospital medicine. His interests include medical education, social determinants of health, working with underserved populations, mentoring and outreach to students interested in medicine.
“I think it's very important to give back to the community, and the way I like to give back is through mentoring,” said Dr. Toribio. “If someone could learn through my experiences, that means the world to me because I feel like the more people see their faces in physicians, the easier it is for them to follow that path.”
In the summer of 2024, Dr. Toribio mentored a student from Caruthers High School through the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy (DA) Summer Health Career Mentorship Program.
He has participated in the summer internship since 2019. Dr. Toribio has also done presentations for the Doctors Academy and Junior Doctors Academy since starting his residency at UCSF Fresno in 2015.
“I really believe that anything that comes your way, any issues, any grades that you didn't get as high as you wanted to, any tests that you didn't pass, there's always a way around that as long as you keep working,” said Dr. Toribio. “I love what I do, and I really like talking to kids that I feel like maybe I walked in their shoes when I was their age and to show them this is where you can be, or even better someday.”
