WHO:
Eighty-one students will graduate this June from the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy programs at Caruthers, Selma and Sunnyside high schools. Twenty-one students make up the graduating Doctors Academy class at Caruthers. Twenty-four will graduate from the program at Selma and 36 will graduate from the program at Sunnyside High School.
All of the students will continue their education at post-secondary institutions in the fall. Ninety-five percent will attend CSU campuses, private universities and colleges or local community colleges.
WHAT:
Awards ceremonies will be held at each of the Doctors Academy campuses to honor the graduates.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Monday, May 5
6 – 7 p.m.
Selma High School, Dining Hall
3125 Wright Street, Selma
Thursday, May 15
6 – 7 p.m.
Caruthers High School, Gymnasium
2580 W. Tahoe Street, Caruthers
Monday, May 22
5:30 – 7 pm
Sunnyside High School, Theater
1019 S. Peach Avenue, Fresno
Recipients of the following awards will be announced:
- UCSF School of Dentistry Pre-Dental Scholars Award: This award is offered to students who submit a complete application and who meet the minimum standards, including 3.6 cumulative GPA and a minimum score of 18 on the Dental Admissions Test. If the student meets all requirements, he or she is eligible to receive special consideration for an interview with the UCSF School of Dentistry.
- UCSF School of Medicine Scholars Award: This award is offered to Doctors Academy students who submit a complete application and who meet the minimum 3.5 GPA in undergraduate course work along with a composite score of 30 or more on the Medical College Admissions Test. If the student meets all requirements, he or she is offered special consideration for early admission to graduate school and is granted an interview with the UCSF School of Medicine based on continued interest in a career in medicine.
- UCSF School of Pharmacy Early Conditional Acceptance Scholars Award: This award grants students an interview with the UCSF School of Pharmacy upon completion of successful undergraduate course work and admission requirements. Recipients of this award must complete the required undergraduate course work and apply to pharmacy school. Their pharmacy applications will be reviewed early and they will be granted admission to the UCSF School of Pharmacy
Select students also will receive scholarships from local, community sponsors who have continued to support the students and their academic accomplishments and service to the community.
“Thanks to the support, dedication and commitment from our school sites and community partners, we are able to provide students with a multitude of services and opportunities,” said Katherine A. Flores, MD, director of the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research. “It is because of these successful partnerships that the Doctors Academy students continue to excel. We are very proud of all of our students and grateful for our partners and their continued support.”
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. A Junior Doctors Academy Program was established in 2000 to encourage and support students earlier in their academic career as middle school students. The Doctors Academy program has grown in popularity and scope in the past 15 years. The Sunnyside Doctors Academy Program currently has 152 students enrolled.
In 2007, Doctors Academy programs were established at Caruthers and Selma high schools. A total of 97 students are enrolled at Caruthers High School and 90 are enrolled at Selma High School. The UCSF Fresno Latino Center continues to support and work closely with Caruthers, Selma and Fresno Unified School Districts to sustain these programs and provide health career opportunities for qualifying students.
In 2009, the Latino Center partnered with California State University, Fresno to re-establish the Health Careers Opportunity Program with the College of Science and Mathematics. Currently, more than 100 students are enrolled in that program.
For more information about the Doctors Academy or the UCSF Fresno Latino Center’s health professions programs, please contact Bertha Dominguez, education director, at 559-241-7670 or email bdomi[email protected]
