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Welcome to the CMSP newsletter!
The California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP) is supporting 400+ students in their journey from community college to becoming primary care physicians. By providing essential support and resources to a diverse cohort of aspiring doctors, we are reducing health disparities and empowering communities with more culturally competent care.
We are thrilled to announce that CMSP was included in the California state budget! This is a significant step towards empowering California Community College students from historically underrepresented communities to pursue careers as primary care physicians. The impact of this funding will be felt as we continue to provide crucial support to students, including:
- Transfer guidance to four-year institutions
- MCAT preparation assistance
- Clinical internship opportunities
- Volunteer healthcare experiences
- Mentorship programs
We are deeply grateful to our students, partners, regional hubs, legislative members, and advocates for their efforts in making this possible. The support was critical in ensuring that every community in our state has access to quality, culturally competent healthcare.
Recent Highlights from Each Regional Hub
Greater Northern California Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
The AvenueM CMSP team recently held the Summer Immersion program for their incoming cohort. Students gained invaluable exposure to various health careers through meetings with doctors specializing in different fields and hands-on workshops such as suturing and phlebotomy, all of which provided practical skills that will be essential as they explore medical professions.
The AvenueM Summer Immersion program also offered CPR certification, which is a valuable addition to the students’ resumes and will enhance their preparedness for emergency situations.
AvenueM CMSP students attending the Summer Immersion program at the UC Davis School of Medicine
The students also heard from speakers who 1) helped them develop their personal narrative, 2) taught them how to conduct a research project on a health-related topic using library resources, and 3) strengthened their leadership skills with workshops to empower them through group work and interpersonal professional relationships. Through this immersive experience, CMSP scholars are better equipped to understand the medical field and a solid foundation for continued programming throughout the coming years.
Inland Empire Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
This summer, UCR's CMSP students are engaging in internship and research opportunities with several sites. These include Health Career Connections (HCC), the UCR School of Medicine's Center for Healthy Communities (CHC), the Future Physician Leaders program (FPL), DAP Health, the UCR School of Medicine's Healthcare Navigators, UCR Faculty Research, and more. The internships and research programs began in June and will continue through August 2024.
Current CHC interns on their first internship day, on-site.
Students are actively completing onboarding processes, attending orientations, and following up with necessary questions. Monthly check-ins are part of their agreements, and many are utilizing advising sessions to create educational plans, examine transfer criteria, and confirm pre-med requirements. It is shaping up to be a highly productive summer for UCR’s CMSP Scholars. Specifically, the in-house FPL program has placed a number of CMSP scholars who will complete components such as the Leadership Lecture Series, a medical student-led peer mentor program, a Community Health Project, and a Program Symposium.
Region X Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
Dr. Hernandez and Dr. Bailey stand along with the Scholars in attendance at the June workshop.
On Saturday, June 8th, the UCSD School of Medicine hosted a Transfer Celebration for their Region X Scholars in CMSP. This event marked a significant milestone, filled with learning, collaboration, and inspiration, and was the first workshop to fully integrate both CMSP Cohorts. Cohort 1 participated in a Health Disparity Pitches and Scientific Presentation Workshop led by Catalina Maynard, a specialist in Narrative Medicine. Her session provided essential skills and confidence to the scholars, enhancing their ability to communicate their Health Disparity pitches effectively. Cohort 2 engaged in team-building activities and a hands-on suturing workshop, fostering camaraderie and collaboration among the scholars.
Co-assistant medical student directors, Erik and Sarah, led the suturing workshop, providing a practical and engaging experience. A highlight of the day was the Health Disparity pitches presented by Cohort 1, with Cohort 2 in attendance, showcasing their dedication to addressing critical health disparities. The Transfer Celebration was an event full of inspiration, growth, and community, culminating in the recognition of the fourteen scholars from Cohort 1 who were admitted to four-year institutions. This event highlighted the importance of UC San Diego’s work in shaping the future of healthcare and empowering the next generation of medical professionals.
San Joaquin Valley Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
The inaugural SJV Mentoring to Medicine Program cohort has 15 students.
It has been a vibrant start to summer in the San Joaquin Valley! With the conclusion of the spring semester, SJV-MedBridge CMSP students eagerly received their pre-med kits, curated by the dedicated program staff. These kits include an anatomy coloring book, a California Medicine Scholars Program backpack, a stethoscope, a suture kit, and access to a comprehensive digital binder filled with valuable pre-medical resources managed via Academy of Mine.
SJV-Medbridge CMSP is thrilled to unveil this digital binder featuring videos, contact information, and reflective prompts to guide students through their next steps in medicine. Their summer kicked off with excitement as they introduced the newest opportunity within the Office of Health Career Pathways at UCSF Fresno—the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Mentoring to Medicine Program.
This June, they welcomed their inaugural group of fifteen students from the SJV-MedBridge program and Doctors Academy alumni. Over the next five weeks, they will engage in clinical shadowing, volunteering, and various projects to further expose them to the field of medicine in the Central Valley. Upon completing the program, students will receive a $3,000 stipend for their participation. They look forward to celebrating their achievements as the program concludes this summer.
California Medicine Scholar Profile
Araceli Robles is entering her third and final year at Sacramento City College, preparing to transfer in Fall 2025 with a goal of majoring in either Human Development or Psychobiology. Currently, she is participating in the Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Research (PSOMER) internship in the cardiology department, focusing on studying the effects of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machines in the CATH lab. She first learned about CMSP AvenueM at the UC Davis Pre-Health Conference in October 2022 while seeking pre-medical support resources. Through AvenueM, she has gained invaluable insights into the diverse pathways and specialties in medicine. The mentorship component has been particularly rewarding, providing her with guidance and opportunities to shadow surgeries, aligning with her current interests, and opening doors she had not previously considered reachable.
Regional Hub Staff Profile
Paula Peterson, a Central Valley native, brings extensive experience in education, having served in various capacities over several years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Fresno Pacific University and a Master of Science in Educational Counseling from National University, along with a PPS credential.
Paula's career began at Fresno City College, initially as a counselor in outreach and later as a coordinator in Student Services and EOPS, specializing in supporting foster youth and homeless/unaccompanied youth through their college journeys. In November 2018, Paula joined the UCSF family and served as the Academic Program Coordinator of the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy Program at Sunnyside High School in Southeast Fresno, advocating passionately for student success. In January of this year, she transitioned into a new role and joined the CMSP SJV-MedBridge team as a coordinator and advising counselor, returning to serving community college students. In this role, she is dedicated to empowering students and guiding them toward achieving their personal and educational aspirations.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Paula finds fulfillment in family time, reading, travel, photography, volunteering, and mission work.
CMSP Events and Workshops for Students
July 23, 2024, 6 - 8 p.m. - Craft a Stellar Resume and Get Glowing Recommendations, special guest speaker Marianne Ragins
Marianne Ragins, a $400,000 scholarship winner and bestselling author, will lead a session on developing standout resumes and securing stellar recommendations. Explore tips and tricks to shine in the competitive job market and boost your career prospects!
August 7, 2024, 6 - 8 p.m. - Internships, Cooperative Education and Hands-On Learning Experiences, special guest speaker Marianne Ragins
Are you ready to take your learning to the next level and step out of the classroom? Marianne Ragins will guide you through the world of internships, cooperative education, and hands-on learning experiences. Gain practical knowledge and pave the way for a successful future outside of traditional learning spaces.
Other Resources to Share with Students
CMSP has curated a collection of valuable resources that can support students on their journey to medical school. We encourage you to share these resources with students.
Undocumented Student Action Week: Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual California Community Colleges' Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW) scheduled for October 14 - 18, 2024. Join the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the Community College League of California and our statewide partners for a week of collaboration focused on supporting those in our system who assist undocumented students. For more information please contact the main office at undocuinfo@foundationccc.org.
Premed Resources (AAMC): Collection of resources for the MCAT, upcoming webinars, preparing for medical school, etc.
Boards & Beyond: Supports medical students with on-demand video libraries and question banks designed to build a solid foundation of understanding that goes beyond memorization
Data and Evaluation
Research, data, and evaluation are important to the California Medicine Scholars Program to ensure that we are not only capturing the successes of this program but also continuing to improve based on current information.
Research Spotlight
How Do Academic Medicine Pathways Differ for Underrepresented Trainees and Physicians? A Critical Scoping Review
Published in Academic Medicine in November 2023, this scoping review investigates “pathways with potholes” to demonstrate the quality of existing infrastructure for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students. The authors identify themes across the literature in recruitment, retention, and attrition for under-represented physicians and trainees, examining programs established between 1968 and 2021.
The Future of Higher Education Enrollment in California
The Public Policy Institute of California recently released this report, which highlights higher education enrollment trends in the state of California at both public and private institutions, including community colleges. The authors present specific policy solutions to address the impact of a shrinking California population to mitigate the effects of the projected decline in enrollment
In the News
In case you missed it, the following links highlight our work:
This publication is written and developed by Jessica Garcia, with support from the CMSP Coordinating Office and the Foundation for California Community Colleges Communications team. To learn more about the California Medicine Scholars Program, please visit our website. For more information contact us at: info@california-medicine.org.