Diversity Hub

We in the department of Neurosurgery are working in partnership with the non-profit organization Oasis for Girls to offer paid internship programs for underserved high school female youth of color (ages 14-18) to expose them to medical and healthcare professional careers with mentorship, career path exploration, and professional development through hospital rotations in labs, the OR, and other academic or healthcare locations, with research projects, presentations, and interactive activities. We accept a group of 15-18 youth per cycle with 3 application / intern cycles per year. We are expanding our programs to reach other demographics (e.g. young Black males, LGBTQ+ youth, college pre-med students). Altogether these programs are housed under the title Neurosurgery Community Internship Programs (NCIP).

RIDR is a research and academic career development program funded by the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and developed by the department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. We provide unique research experiences and focused mentorship to students from diverse backgrounds. Our goal is to provide an early opportunity for students to explore radiology as a career choice and support the next wave of innovation in our field.

Each June, the Early Academic Outreach Program supports UCSF students in holding a one-week free summer day camp at the Parnassus campus for rising fifth- and sixth-grade students. Summer Science Camp was established by UCSF School of Pharmacy student Heather Hertema in 2007 to excite, motivate, and inspire youth, especially those who are underrepresented and underserved in natural and health sciences to pursue the natural and health sciences both in college and as a career. Each year, the camp affords up to 55 students the opportunity to experience hands-on, inquiry-based science. The camp also promotes positive interaction with professional students, campus scientists, and health professionals who serve as role models.

MAP to College! is a free, one-day, annual college-going event held in the fall for Bay Area students in the 12th grade and their parents or guardians. Fall semester of a students' senior year in high school is a critical time for college applications. As colleges become more competitive and selective, it is important that students understand the nuances of each college application and how to write a strong personal essay. Attendees of MAP to College! can attend workshops on the UC application and personal statement, the CSU application, the Community College transfer path, the application and admissions process for private colleges and financial aid. Financial aid workshops are presented in English, Spanish and Cantonese. This event is targeted to students in the twelfth grade, but students of all grades are welcome to attend!

Twenty high school students come to UCSF each summer to conduct biomedical research under the guidance of a scientist mentor. Program received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2011. This program is currently funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and the Baskin Family Foundation.

MedLink is a partnership between UCSF medical students, SFUSD, OUSD and community organizations. Our mission is to inspire and support high school students from communities that are under-represented in the health professions through mentorship and hands-on activities in the health sciences. We envision a future in which healthcare workers come from backgrounds that are as ethnically and economically diverse as the communities they serve.

PRIME hosts 4-5 health pipeline organizations to come and visit the UCSF campus during the summer. We have current partners that we invite, Mentoring in Medicine and Science, Huckleberry Youth Wellness Academy, San Francisco State Summer Science Institute, FACES for the Future. PRIME students work with the coordinators of the pipeline programs to develop a site visit that is in line with the interests of their programs. Some typical activities include a tour, a medical student panel, specimen/organ hands-on activity. Each program visits UCSF once for about 3 hours.