WHO:
UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy students who are going into their senior year in high school shadowed local physicians this summer and with input and encouragement from their mentors, the students completed required research projects. One of the components of the Doctors Academy is to offer seniors in the program the opportunity to research health issues impacting the community. The physicians volunteered their time to serve as mentors as well as provide insight on research topics related to health issues commonly encountered among the San Joaquin Valley’s diverse populations. Nearly 60 students will present the findings from their research projects tonight during the 2014 Doctors Academy Senior Research Symposium.
WHAT:
The annual Doctors Academy Senior Research Symposium is an opportunity for students to showcase their research projects and findings involving a variety of health issues. Examples of research projects include:
- Connection between psychological stress and cardiovascular disease
- Environmental factors that contribute to childhood obesity
- Biological and environmental factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes among children
- Stroke among African-Americans
- Back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders among migrant farmworkers
- Cellular mechanisms that cause leukemia among children
- Kidney problems seen by pediatricians
- Asthma among children ages 0-18
WHEN AND WHERE:
Thursday, July 24, 2014
5:30 – 7 p.m.
UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Education and Research 155 N. Fresno St., Fresno
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 [email protected]
