Diversity Hub

The Health Careers Opportunity Program is a partnership between the University of California, San Francisco Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research and California State University Fresno (Fresno State) to provide support to disadvantaged Fresno State students committed to becoming competitive applicants to health professional schools. Selected students engage in a structured program of academic enrichment and social support, preparing them for admission into health professional school. The ultimate goal is for these individuals to become healthcare professionals that will practice in the Central Valley, providing care to the medically underserved.

Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) provides racial and ethnic minority students, students from lower-income households, and students who are the first in their family to attend medical school easy access to mentoring. UIM and its mentoring project aim to provide targeted experiences to 1st and 2nd year medical students with less inherent medical experience before they start 3rd year and are evaluated (in part) on their medical school cultural knowledge on the wards. We aim to begin providing this advantage by facilitating mentorship from physicians from all across the Bay Area. These volunteers will donate their time to invest in the next generation of medical professionals, and bestow in them the institutional knowledge, wisdom and emotional support they have acquired throughout their years in medicine.

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.

PROF-PATH (Promoting Research Opportunities Fully-Prospective Academics Transforming Health) is a research and academic career development program for health professions students funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. We train UCSF students from underrepresented in medicine (UIM) backgrounds regardless of research area focus, and students interested in health disparities research regardless of background. PROF-PATH provides funding, classes, mentorship, community, and opportunities for training for students from all four UCSF professional schools. Our goal is to help students make the most of the rich research and academic career development opportunities available at UCSF.

SACNAS (the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in Science) at UCSF is a chapter of the National SACNAS Organization, whose mission is to promote the recruitment, retention and career development of underrepresented minorities in the sciences. SACNAS at UCSF is committed to preparing and empowering underrepresented minorities to become leaders that will have a positive impact in our society. To accomplish this, SACNAS at UCSF organizes academic, professional, community service and social activities, creating an enriched environment and support network that serves all of its members and the UCSF community.

The purpose of the Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research (MTPCCR) is to increase ethnic diversity in the field of cancer control research by encouraging minority students in master's level health programs as well as master's trained health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a career in research. The program has been designed to enhance participants'; (1) Understanding of the power of research to effect change; (2) Awareness of the strengths and limitations of research methods, theory, and interventions in eliminating health disparities; (3) Interest in cancer control research, from surveillance to epidemiology, individual behavior change, health services, and policy research; and (4) Research, networking, information seeking skills, and motivation and ability to successfully apply to a doctoral program.

This year-long, structured program is designed for first time applicants who believe they need additional preparation in order to be competitive applicants and for previously unsuccessful applicants to dental school. The program are especially interested in individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, underserved communities and/or from groups traditionally underrepresented in the profession. The comprehensive program is designed to help participants become more competitive dental school applicants in a future admission cycle, and consists of the following key elements; (1) Mentoring and academic advising; (2) A full year of upper division science course work through the University of California, Berkeley Extension; (3) Assistance with the dental school application process; (4) Academic and learning skills development; (5) Intensive DAT review course; (6) Faculty mentoring; and (7) Interprofessional collaboration with the Medical and Pharmacy post-baccalaureate programs.

The Summer Research Program provides research opportunities in the biomedical and biological sciences. Students selected for summer research at UC San Francisco spend up to ten weeks working with UCSF faculty members on research projects. Participants in the program take part in seminars, lectures, and social events, creating a cohesive and supportive community. At the end of the program, students give presentations of their research and get valuable feedback from students, postdocs, and faculty at UCSF. Students are supported in these programs by funds from the AMGEN Scholars Program, the National Science Foundation, Genentech, the University of California Office of the President, and UCSF Graduate Division.

The intensive one-day program provides 9th and 10th grade Latino high school students with the tools and training necessary to prepare for college. The program is held on various college campuses across the country in cities with a high Latino population.

CHCI's (Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute) scholarship opportunities are afforded to Latino students in the United States who have a history of performing public service-oriented activities in their communities and who demonstrate a desire to continue their civic engagement in the future. There is no GPA or academic major requirement. Students with excellent leadership potential are encouraged to apply. CHCI scholarships provide recipients with a one time scholarship of: (1)$1,000 to pursue an associate degree; (2) $2,500 to pursue an undergraduate degree; (3) $5,000 to pursue graduate-level study; and (4) Scholarship awards are intended to provide assistance with tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other educational expenses associated with college enrollment. In an effort to ensure the progress of scholarship recipients and encourage completion of the postsecondary program, each associate and undergraduate level scholarship award is divided over the number of years required for graduation (i.e. a $2,500 scholarship for a college freshman will be distributed in four equal installments of $625 a year). Students continue to receive annual disbursements as long as they maintain good academic standing. CHCI manages the disbursement of the scholarships; an annual check is sent directly to recipients.