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.

PITCH is a FREE opportunity for incoming high school juniors, particularly those who may be the first in their families to pursue a four-year college degree, to spend three weeks at UCSF, exploring careers in healthcare, and looking into the educational pathways that lead to different careers, and learning professional skills that will help them along the way. PITCH students are mentored by current UCSF students in the Graduate Division, dental school, pharmacy school, medical school, and nursing school as they complete a group research project and receive one-on-one and small group academic advising from EAOP counselors. PITCH has three core components: (1) Exposure to Careers in Health - presented through a combination of hands-on workshops or guest lectures, led by UCSF students, faculty and staff; (2) College Awareness - Assists students to better understanding the college search and application process; and (3) Group Work on a Research Project - PITCH students research a specific disease, which allows them to develop an understanding for the roles of the various health professionals treating the disease.

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!

Plan on College! is a free, one-day, annual event for Bay Area students in the eighth grade and their parents or guardians. Attendees of Plan on College! will receive valuable information on course selection for high school, factors that impact college eligibility, college financial aid, and long-term benefits of a college education. Parent workshops are presented in English, Spanish and Cantonese by experts in the field.

Our mission is to provide access to quality health care for underserved people of California. This is accomplished by linking academic training programs with training sites in urban and rural underserved areas of the state such as community clinics and health centers, hospitals and other community based sites. The California AHEC has 13 centers, each responsible for a geographic service area in an urban or rural part of the state. Each center develops its own programs based on the needs of their service area and include continuing education for health professionals and staff working in underserved communities; rotations and other community experiences for health professions students and residents and youth health careers programs for underrepresented minority and other disadvantaged K-14 students. Each of these programs seeks to train future HPs, recruit and retain health professionals for community clinics and health centers and other types of sites that provide medical/dental and behavioral health services to the underserved populations of CA.

UCSF volunteers partner with K-12 teachers to co-plan and co-teach a series of science lessons.

This ambitious collaborative public education initiative, led by UCSF SEP, brings together our leading academic, scientific, corporate, and non-profit institutions to showcase the region as an international leader in innovation. Each year, the 50+ festival events attract over 50,000 active participants, many of whom traditionally do not have access to quality scientific resources.

The Summer Biomedical Internship (SBI) program was established in 1988 to provide a quality biomedical research experience for students in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The program matches high school students, in the summer between their junior and senior year of high school with faculty members who have or are developing a research project. Students are chosen based on their scholastic abilities and must reside in the 6 county valley area. Students are matched with a faculty mentor on a project for approximately 6-7 during the summer. The internship also includes opportunities for field trips to local hospitals, UCSF main campus and to attend various lectures and grand rounds. The internship culminates in the "Presentation of Projects" on the first Wednesday in August.