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CMSP Virtual Student Conference
The California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP) proudly hosted the inaugural CMSP Virtual Student Conference on Saturday, April 27. The conference, open exclusively to California Medicine Scholars, explored student identity and intersectionality within CMSP. The day began with a warm welcome and two sessions led by consulting group JW1, followed by an engaging panel discussion highlighting the experiences of current CMSP transfer scholars. Scholars also broke out into smaller sessions, facilitated by JW1, to share and connect with their peers. We are pleased that so many CMSP scholars from across the state joined us for a day filled with meaningful conversation and connection!
Recent Highlights from Each Regional Hub
AvenueM, Greater Northern California Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
The AvenueM team is primarily focused on programming for their Cohort One and Cohort Two students. Currently, they are working on enhancing mentorship opportunities to ensure effective guidance and support for students from local healthcare professionals. Regular meetings between mentors and mentees also aim to strengthen professional connections and relationships.
Additionally, the AvenueM Regional Hub is working diligently to amplify its efforts in the North State and Sacramento areas. AvenueM Outreach Coordinators recently
Community college students share their experiences on a panel to recruit future California Medicine Scholars for the UC Davis AvenueM Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity.
participated in several recruitment events in these regions. Furthermore, community college students joined a panel at AvenueM to share their experiences and help spread the word to more students for future cohorts.
Lastly, the AvenueM team is collaborating closely with local health center clinics, various UC Davis main campus departments, Kaiser Permanente, Health Careers Connections, and other institutions to secure summer internships for each student, enhancing their professional experiences.
Inland Empire Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
With the help of two UCR School of Medicine students, the IE RHHO recently concluded its Prepare Pre-Med lecture series. The initial session introduced CMSP Scholars to undergraduate research, emphasizing its significance for future medical professionals. The second session explored various research opportunities available to CMSP Scholars and provided guidance on how to locate them. The last lecture, which required in-person attendance, was a workshop where students could work one-on-one and learn practical tips for writing letters of interest and approaching professors.
Additionally, the IE RHHO invited CMSP Scholars to attend the UCR School of Medicine Open House. During this event, scholars had the
CMSP Scholars learn about research opportunities while attending the Prepare Pre-med lecture series at UCR School of Medicine.
opportunity to partake in simulation lab tours, hear from UCR SOM Admissions representatives, participate in a UCR Medical Student Panel, and attend other workshops.
Region X Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
Students and staff attending the Region X CMSP student orientation.
Region X recently welcomed fifty scholars to the program, making up its second cohort of CMSP scholars! The students and thirty of their loved ones joined Region X staff, current UC San Diego medical students, Ashley Cooper of the University of California Office of the President, and keynote speaker Dr. Jorge Silva Sepulveda at UCSD School of Medicine for a special welcome event. The day's activities included a campus tour, workshops, and a mock physical exam for the scholars to get hands-on experience.
Region X was also excited to host the first anatomy workshop for Cohort 1 scholars, thanks to the help of Dr. Paul Kingston. Scholars were able to experience the anatomy lab at UCSD School of Medicine and study the human body with the condensed version of the curriculum used by the school of medicine.
San Joaquin Valley Regional Hub of Healthcare Opportunity
Aspiring San Joaquin Valley physicians learn to apply a tourniquet at UCSF Fresno’s Simulation Open House during the 2024 Reaching Out to Aspiring Doctors (ROAD) Conference.
At the end of March, UCSF Fresno hosted its annual Reaching Out to Aspiring Doctors Conference. Attended by over 260 students and pre-health educators, the event was a great success. The highlight was a dynamic simulation open house, featuring the UCSF Fresno simulation team and over 20 medical student volunteers from San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PRIME and California Health Sciences University (CHSU).
While the semester is winding down, SJV-Medbridge/CMSP Central Valley is gearing up for an exciting summer ahead. This June marks the launch of the SJV Mentoring to Medicine Program. Exclusive to select SJV-MedBridge and Doctors Academy Alumni students, this paid 5-week program pairs participants with a physician mentor and a community-based organization (CBO) for a high-yield learning experience.
California Medicine Scholar Profile
Leah Oasay is a community college student at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. She came to the San Diego region from Oahu, HI, where she completed kindergarten through freshman year of high school. As a community college student, Leah pushes herself toward academic excellence and is highly active on campus. She serves as a peer mentor for first-year students, participates in a learning community for Filipino, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student, Leah
pushes herself toward academic excellence and is highly active on campus. She serves as a peer mentor for first-year students, participates in a learning community for Filipino, Asian American,and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, is a member of the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program, and has worked with the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program, which introduced her to California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP). Her favorite aspects of being a CMSP Scholar are the hands-on activities and opportunities to connect with practicing physicians. She feels privileged to have had opportunities to learn about anatomy and pathology through CMSP workshops and receive guidance about medicine pathways from experts – opportunities many students only receive later in their academic careers. Leah is transferring to a four-year university next academic year and hopes the experience gained in CMSP will support her long-term goals of specializing in neuroscience or dermatology. She is so happy that she chose to start her higher education career at community college: “If it wasn’t for community college, I wouldn’t have known about CMSP or be where I am today.”
Regional Hub Staff Profile
Dr. Charlene K. Green:
As Assistant Dean of Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity at UC Davis School of Medicine, Dr. Charlene K. Green oversees programmatic and administrative matters related to admissions, student/resident diversity initiatives, and pathway programs, including CMSP.
In addition, she serves as an
adjunct faculty member at a
local community college, teaching human career development
and psychology courses, and
counseling community college scholars to success.
Dr. Green is a proud community college graduate, holding an A.A. in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Social and Behavioral Sciences from American River College, as well as a B.A. in Organizational Communication from California State University, Sacramento, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco, and a Psy.D. in Human and Organizational Psychology from Touro University. Her educational journey, full of pitfalls and detours, has made her more passionate about removing barriers for others. Now, sitting on the other side of the academic perspective, her experiences have kept her incredibly empathetic to students who still face some of the same challenges with support and navigation.
When asked about the best part of working with CMSP students, Dr. Green said, “[S]eeing myself in many of our scholars! With support and mentorship, students are able to showcase their high potential. As a community college graduate, I know what it has meant for someone to be there to support and guide me through a sometimes-challenging system. Our students are incredibly driven and motivated. It’s also wonderful to see the community they have built amongst themselves. They truly care about each other and are working collectively to make their dreams come true.”
May 30, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | The Path to Practice: A Medical Student Speaker Series featuring Jacob Perez-Stringer
Join us for an inspiring workshop led by Jacob Perez-Stringer, a remarkable individual whose journey from a small rural town to medical school exemplifies determination and triumph. Born and raised in the heart of California's Central Valley, Jacob defied early academic challenges to pursue his dream of a career in medicine. Beginning his higher education journey at Reedley College, he encountered skepticism but remained steadfast in his pursuit of knowledge and excellence.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable advice and inspiration from Jacob's transformative journey. Whether you're a student facing similar challenges or simply seeking motivation to pursue your aspirations, this workshop promises to leave you empowered and encouraged.
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.
Future Physician Leaders offers a summer program for premedical students from Inland Southern California who are dedicated to improving the health of their community. The program promotes life-long mentorship and aims to support premedical students through their college journey to medical school. Throughout the year, students have opportunities to volunteer and participate in various health conferences, workshops, and community events.
The California Community Colleges Health and Wellness Program is a statewide effort focusing on prevention and early intervention strategies which address the mental health needs of California community college students and advance the collaboration between community colleges and community-based agencies. This program is a collaboration between the Chancellor’s Office and FoundationCCC and is built upon three strategic directions: faculty and staff training, peer-to- peer support, and prevention and early intervention. Learn more about what this program has to offer at the link.
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
Disparities in Pre-Health Advising Across California’s Public Universities
For this article, advisors at University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and private four-year institutions in California were interviewed to identify perceived challenges in pre-health undergraduate advising. The findings highlight themes around advisors' perceptions of structural challenges to advising, student challenges around advising, and advising innovations. The authors include key information about access to advising using publicly available data, and a description of how pre-health advising is structured across different institutions (and different campuses within institutions). The authors also briefly discuss the lack of coordination between community colleges and four-year institutions as a challenge that must be addressed.
Psychological and Emotional Experiences of Participants in a Medical School, Early Assurance Admissions Program Targeting Students from Groups Underrepresented in Medicine
This February 2024 article focuses on the emotional and psychological experiences of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) undergraduate students participating in an early admissions pathway program at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The students, who come from five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and four non-HBCUs, spend two consecutive summers doing mentored research and participating in a program of structured enrichment. By interviewing current URiM pathway program students to gain an understanding of their experiences, the authors seek to identify how participation in these programs impacts students’ emotional and psychological health, which in turn impacts their ability to succeed academically.
In the News
In case you missed it, the following links highlight our work:
This publication is written and developed by Carly Bertolozzi, 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.