University of California, Merced - SJV PRIME

From Dreams to Degrees: Graduates Celebrate with Scholarship Donors

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:06:06 +0000

By Francesca Dinglasan, �鶹��

June 12, 2025

�鶹�� donors Cheryl Matsubara and Dar Chen with Chen and Matsubara Family Scholar Jahaira Morales ’25 (center)

�鶹��’s graduating Class of 2025 recently celebrated its achievement at the campus’s spring commencement, joined by family members, close friends and loved ones.

For two graduates, Jahaira Morales and Bryan Gutierrez, the ceremony also was an opportunity to meet with a couple of other individuals who have been invested in their higher-education journey at �鶹�� – their scholarship benefactors, Dar Chen and Cheryl Matsubara.

As Chen and Matsubara Family Scholars, Morales and Gutierrez received financial awards throughout their four years at �鶹��. They both received the initial scholarship disbursement as incoming freshmen and were eligible to renew it every year as long as they remained in good academic standing.

“I’m very thankful and lucky for being chosen for this scholarship,” Morales said during her meeting with Chen and Matsubara. “School is really expensive, and the scholarship supported me so much throughout my time as an undergrad.”

Morales, a biological sciences major who attended high school in nearby Turlock, said the financial assistance was essential for the necessities to complete her studies.

“The money was important for my supplies,” she said. “I remember my laptop broke, and I was only able to get a new one because of my scholarship.”

Gutierrez, a Merced native who earned his degree in psychology, also expressed his gratitude for the resources provided by the Chen and Matsubara Family Scholarship.

“It really came as a surprise when I was selected, and I am extremely appreciative,” he said.

The two new graduates are the latest Chen and Matsubara Family Scholars to meet with the couple who supported them. Before they visited Merced during commencement, Chen and Matsubara met with other scholarship recipients, observing the dedication and resilience of �鶹�� students.

“I’m very impressed with them and how much they value coming to this campus,” said Matsubara. “They have a lot of responsibilities, and I get the sense that they need to work to help with the financial stress.

“That is why we decided to do a current-use scholarship,” she added, citing their preference for a scholarship that provides funding to students immediately rather than an investment for future use. “We hope it helps relieve the financial stress and gives them a little more time to concentrate on their studies or be active in other areas on campus.”

As self-described products of public education and the University of California, Matsubara and Chen noted that “the value of public education is well understood and appreciated by us.”

“Public education is just so vital and the great equalizer,” said Matsubara. “The UC system does a wonderful job, and we want to continue to be a part of that.”

Matsubara and Chen are both UC Berkeley alumni and had considered charitable giving to their alma mater. They started learning more about the UC campus in the Central Valley, located about an hour away from where Matsubara grew up as the daughter of a farmer, and saw the proportional impact their philanthropy could have on the much younger and growing university.

“We looked into the size of endowments at UC campuses and realized Berkeley’s is at a certain level, and the newest campus is completely different,” said Chen. “We had a few conversations and decided our financial assistance program would make a bigger difference at Merced on a relative basis than UC Berkeley and would be able to help more people.”

Cheryl Matsubara and Dar Chen in front of the under-construction Medical Education Building, which will include the Chen and Matsubara Family Anatomy Small Group Room.

In addition to their multi-year undergraduate scholarship, Chen and Matsubara have also made a gift in support of the campus’s new Medical Education Building. In recognition of their generosity, the facility’s dedicated anatomy space will be named the Chen and Matsubara Family Anatomy Small Group Room.

Chen and Matsubara shared that the inspiration for the gift came from a conversation between the couple and one of their scholars.

“A few years ago, we had the chance to talk to a couple of the scholarship recipients and asked how their programs were going,” said Chen. “One was in pre-med and told us she needed to go to a community college for her anatomy classes, and we thought, ‘How could that be right?’

“�鶹�� should have that capability and facility,” he added. “Also, Cheryl’s degree is in biology and her favorite subject is anatomy, so when the Medical Education Building was proposed, the anatomy room was a natural choice for us.”

Chen and Matsubara are optimistic that �鶹��’s medical education efforts will help improve health care access and quality in the underserved Central Valley and that their support of promising students from the region is contributing to that important outcome.

“We’ve always wanted to give back to help others in their education,” said Matsubara.

It is an ideal the couple hopes they will inspire in others, including the students who benefit from their support. When saying goodbye and sharing their well wishes with Morales and Gutierrez, Chen reminded the new graduates, “Just remember that 30 years from now, you’ve got to pay it forward.”

Alyssa Johansen

Medical Education at �鶹�� Grows; Adds New Students, Faculty

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:37:56 +0000

By Francesca Dinglasan

November 21, 2024

The second cohort of the B.S.-to-M.D. pathway is composed of 15 students, doubling the number of students in the program.

Medical education at �鶹�� is expanding at a rapid pace as part of the campus’ long-term goal to address the shortage of physicians and health care professionals in the Central Valley.

This fall, the university welcomed the second cohort of students in the B.S.-to-M.D. pathway. Formally known as the San Joaquin Valley PRIME Plus Program (SJV PRIME+), the partnership among �鶹��, UC San Francisco and UCSF Fresno offers students a path from undergraduate studies to medical school, with access to guidance, peer support and training focused on meeting the challenges faced by this very specialized group during their academic journey.

Like the inaugural cohort of B.S.-to-M.D. pathway students who entered �鶹�� in the 2023-24 academic year, the second cohort comprises 15 students, doubling the number of students in the program. All the scholars were recruited from the Valley and share an ambition to become medical leaders, practitioners and advocates for the region.

Students in the second cohort come from small towns and cities in Fresno, Kern, Madera, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties, representing a rich diversity of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. They share a deep motivation to improve health care access and quality of care for their hometowns and communities.

“My commitment to medicine stems from my upbringing on a farm and in a rural community,” said Gunreet Mahil, a student from Madera. “I’ve been able to witness firsthand the severe lack of adequate health care for farmworkers and community members in the San Joaquin Valley. These experiences have deeply influenced and shaped my perspective on health care… (and) fueled my commitment to addressing health care disparities and improving access for not only underserved populations, but also the community that has shaped my identity and purpose.

“I’d like to become a doctor that patients are excited to see,” she added. “I’m beyond excited to start caring for my community.”

Tayba Khan, a first-year student from Fresno, shared that her experiences growing up with limited care facilities helped her understand the systemic disadvantages faced by her community. “Constantly working to survive meant that medical care was always pushed to the side until it was impossible to bear, and this attitude surrounding medicine and work created a culture where the emergency room was the only point of care for entire communities,” she said. “This stress on the emergency rooms left many patients with bandage solutions and no long-term interventions. 

“Seeing my parents suffer in silence to give me a future put into perspective how detrimental inadequate access to medical care is to communities across the Central Valley,” continued Khan. “Being a doctor, to me, means being the bridge between adequate health care access and my community.”

“Students join this program because they are dedicated to becoming doctors for the Valley,” noted Director of Medical Education Dr. Margo Vener. “Our job is to give them the training they need to make their dreams turn into reality, and they can become the skillful, humane physicians that the Valley deserves.”

Vital to the SJV PRIME+ students’ ability to embark on this rigorous course of study is the philanthropic support of community partners and campus donors. Many of the B.S.-to-M.D. pathway students are the recipients of comprehensive, multi-year scholarships that help cover undergraduate expenses. For most of these scholars, receiving financial assistance is what made attending �鶹�� possible.

Among the �鶹�� partners whose gifts are helping make a difference for these scholars is the Central Valley Opportunity Fund (CVOF), a Central Valley Community Foundation initiative.

“Both �鶹�� and the medical education students' passion for making a difference in our community reflects the values of the Central Valley Opportunity Fund,” said CVCF Merced Regional Director Kim Garner. “We all share a commitment to making big and lasting changes in our region, creating equitable health care opportunities and transforming systems to correct inequality.”

To keep pace with the growing program, several new teaching faculty were hired this fall. Joining Vener in the Department of Medical Education are Rosa Manzo, Matthew Warren, Julia Alvarez, Marco Garcia-Ojeda, Susan DeRiemer and Nripendra Dhillon. Chief among the faculty’s priorities is to prepare the curriculum for the program’s foundational courses, which are slated to be ready for classroom delivery by fall 2027.

Also underway is the construction of �鶹��’s Medical Education Building, which will house the B.S.-to-M.D. pathway along with the departments of psychology and public health and the Health Sciences Research Institute. Groundbreaking on the state-of-the-art facility took place in May, and the building is on track to open in fall 2026.

Alyssa Johansen

University’s Strength Lies in Opportunities for Social Mobility, Chancellor Says

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:29:58 +0000

October 10, 2024

�鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said the university "is growing stronger year after year."

�鶹�� is being recognized from coast to coast as an institution that “redefines academic excellence, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said Wednesday in the annual State of the University address.

“As chancellor of this magnificent institution, I tell you that the state of our university is strong, and growing stronger year after year,” Muñoz said.

Speaking before an audience of faculty, staff, benefactors, Bobcat student athletes, and members of the university’s Board of Trustees, Muñoz said the University of California’s youngest campus is more than fulfilling its mission of research, teaching and community service.

“Academic excellence is about exceeding the national average in student graduation rates and minimizing the costs of education. It is about enrolling and graduating a large proportion of students from lower-income families,” Munoz said.

Muñoz noted that:

The Wall Street Journal ranked the university No. 1 for social mobility — how well colleges and universities attract students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and help them complete degrees and graduate into promising careers. “As someone who was a member of that economically disadvantaged community, what an amazing legacy for this campus,” Muñoz said. “And let me tell you, it’s nice to be number one.”
�鶹�� enrolled more than 2,300 first-year or transfer students for the fall semester, bringing the total student body to more than 9,100.

Several �鶹�� student-athletes attended the event.

Nearly all the first-year class comes from California, including 32 percent from the Central Valley, 29 percent from Southern California and 26 percent from the San Francisco Bay Area.
The university’s athletics program is transitioning from an NAIA affiliation to NCAA Division II, generating more visibility for �鶹�� and more opportunities for student-athletes.
The second group of students in �鶹��’s B.S. to M.D. pathway started classes this fall. The 15 students, all from Central Valley communities, are in the SJV PRIME+ program, designed to develop medical professionals who will start their careers in the Valley. The original cohort of 15 began its academic journey in fall 2023.
Construction is underway on a Medical Education Building that will house the B.S. to M.D. pathway, along with the public health and psychology departments and the Health Sciences Research Institute.
Researchers at �鶹�� received nearly $80 million in grants and other funding for their groundbreaking work while spending a university-record $62 million in pursuit of knowledge that raises the bar for the Valley, California and beyond.
Boldy Forward, the university’s fundraising campaign, reported more than $102 million from nearly 7,800 unique donors. The campaign has a goal of $200 million by 2030.

Fresno developer and longtime �鶹�� supporter Ed Kashian accepts the Chancellor's Medal.

Wednesday’s gathering also featured a presentation of the Chancellor’s Medal, �鶹��’s highest recognition. This year’s recipient was Fresno real estate developer Ed Kashian, who, with wife Jeanne, is a major supporter of �鶹��.

“Mr. Kashian has been instrumental to the growth of our university since its earliest days,” Munoz said.

“I simply want to say,” Kashian said after receiving the medal, “I am very proud of the service you have given to all of the people of the Valley.”

Jody Murray

From Bakersfield to a ‘Peaceful’ Place to Pursue Science, Medicine

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 23:20:52 +0000

By Jody Murray, �鶹��

July 2, 2024

This is part of a series of profiles of new �鶹�� Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester.

San Joaquin Valley native Anmol Kaur is well on her way to making a splash in the worlds of science and medicine. The Bakersfield resident, coming to �鶹�� as a first-year student, parlayed strong experiences in high school into a slot in the second SJV PRIME+ medical education cohort.

Kaur is poised to follow a path taken by her parents, who both have careers in medicine.

Where I come from: I grew up in Bakersfield and graduated from Stockdale High School.

What I've done: I maintained a 4.5 GPA in high school and was accepted into the Project Lead the Way biomedical science program. I experienced hands-on activities like analyzing DNA, dissecting organs and conducting a pig autopsy. I co-founded W.I.S.E. (Women in STEM Education), a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and educating young girls about STEM careers. We supported our community by organizing online seminars, holding robotics and microscopy analysis workshops for middle schoolers, and awarding scholarships to high schoolers.

Why are you excited about coming to �鶹��? As someone who grew up in the Central Valley, �鶹��'s quiet, peaceful location feels like a comfortable fit. My acceptance into the SJV PRIME+ BS/MD pathway was a major factor in my decision to attend the university.

Academic and personal goals: As a biological sciences major, I hope to continue expanding my experience and interest in the fields of science and medicine. With the support of those around me, I am committed to preparing for medical school. Beyond that, I plan to volunteer within my community, connect with new people, and make lasting memories.

My favorite food: All kinds of fruits.

Early bird or night owl? Night owl.

You can teleport anywhere in the world for a three-day weekend. Where do you go? I would love to explore Italy’s scenic towns.

Quotable: “After meeting members of the previous SJV PRIME+ cohort and seeing how close everyone became throughout the year, I am looking forward to gaining new experiences and developing similar relationships.”

Jody Murray

Following the Mission to Improve Valley Health Care

Anonymous — Wed, 15 May 2024 17:26:52 +0000

By Jody Murray, �鶹��

May 15, 2024

UC President Michael Drake signs a white coat to celebrate an important milestone for �鶹��'s Medical Education Building.

It was a groundbreaking Tuesday night so there were shovels. Many shovels. Full sized, posterized, miniaturized (in a gift box). All to mark a symbolic turning of earth for �鶹��’s Medical Education Center.

The tools also evoke something Dr. Kenny Banh said nearly a year ago. A top administrator at UC San Francisco's Fresno campus, he was talking about San Joaquin Valley PRIME, a program that prepared students from the Valley for a medical career. Training included at least a year in the Bay Area.

“With SJV PRIME, we would take these great students from the Valley and train them in San Francisco," said Banh, assistant dean for undergraduate medical education. "That’s not growing your own garden.”

The Medical Education Building, scheduled to open in 2026, will host the undergraduate phase of the SJV PRIME+ program, which packages years of undergraduate and medical school training within �鶹�� and UCSF Fresno.

“SJV PRIME+ is about taking kids from your backyard and keeping them in your backyard,” Banh said. “It’s called building a community.”

Medical training that stays in the Valley is one SJV PRIME+ tentpole. The other is just as important, if not more so: Students accepted into the program must express an intent to practice medicine in the Valley, thereby improving the quality of health care for a region in dire need of it.

Due to numerous socio-economic and cultural pressures, access to health care is a struggle in the Valley. The region has 130 physicians per 100,000 people, compared to 191 per 100,000 in all of California, according to a 2020 study by the Council on Graduate Medical Education.

The study also looked at what it called Health Professional Shortage Areas. Examples of an HPSA include low-income communities, homeless populations and groups of migrant farmworkers. In California, 28% of the population lives in an HPSA. In the Valley, the number soars to 92%.

Bringing in a place where we can actually grow doctors who can then go out and service their communities … that’s wonderful. This is the beginning of something really special.

Fred Ruiz

“We all are aware of the numbers and how we're underserved, so it's great that this campus that came to the Central Valley and lifted up our educational opportunities is also lifting up our medical opportunities,” said Jack Garamendi, a member of the �鶹�� Board of Trustees.

Longtime �鶹�� benefactor Fred Ruiz has lived in the Valley since age 9. He has seen the disparities in health care, especially in rural, underserved communities.

“Bringing in a place where we can actually grow doctors who can then go out and service their communities … that’s wonderful,” he said. “This is the beginning of something really special.”

The Medical Education Building will host more than what the university calls its B.S.-to-M.D. program. It also will be home to �鶹��’s Health Sciences Research Institute, its departments of public health and psychological sciences, and other allied health care programs developed with regional community colleges. In short, it’s a full-scale delivery of �鶹��’s keystone commitment to community service.

“A mission of �鶹�� is to impact this region economically in terms of health writ large — reducing health disparities, increasing access to care and health professionals,” public health Professor Nancy Burke said. “Also, we have faculty, graduate students and postdocs doing research that addresses the social, political and cultural structures that impact health here. It’s pretty unique.”

Dr. Marisela Rangel-Garcia, a Fresno gastroenterologist and one of the first students in the original SJV PRIME program, has a unique point of view of that mission.

“As a freshman at �鶹�� back in 2005, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but after being influenced by multiple people here, I decided to pursue medicine. I was inspired by patients that I saw as a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center Merced,” Rangel-Garcia said.

“�鶹�� has been a huge part of my journey. And now as I return to the Valley, I'm excited to be here to serve patients and excited by what the future holds for the Central Valley with the Medical Education Building.”

The word “seventh” was spoken more than once at the groundbreaking ceremony. It referred to the six medical centers in the UC system. Someday — certainly not any time soon — �鶹�� will add to that number, with this building and the programs within signifying a mighty leap in that direction.

“We have 5 million people in the San Joaquin Valley. If we were a state, we’d be the 27^th largest in the country, and we’d be the largest without a medical school,” said state Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula. “I spent 10 years on the front lines of health care as an emergency room doctor. I’m looking forward to seeing reinforcements on the horizon.”

As a cloudy dusk fell on Tuesday night’s ceremony and six golden shovels plunged into earth, it was a time to celebrate not just the moment but the months and years and decades to come.

“What we’re doing tonight is setting off what’s going to happen 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Betsy Dumont, “which is to be a Valley empowered with health care and empowered with the ability to build to take care of itself and take care of other regions of California.”

Jody Murray

2023: A Look Back

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 15:34:14 +0000

December 21, 2023

Pausing to reflect on the year's accomplishments.

2023 was a remarkable year in which �鶹�� experienced tremendous growth and acclaim. Several milestones were reached, setting up the university to continue thriving in the near future and beyond. As we embark on a new year, here's a look back at the stories that shaped 2023.

�鶹�� Marks the 20th Anniversary of the University’s Groundbreaking

January 26th, 2023

Members of �鶹��’s founding faculty and staff were on-hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the university’s groundbreaking. The event took place at the Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Grand Ballroom which was filled with stories about the campus’s early days. During his remarks, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz highlighted how far the university had come in a short amount of time and gave a preview of what’s in store.

�鶹�� Students Assist Those Affected By Floods

January 31st, 2023

In the wake of historic rains in the area and subsequent damage to personal property, an equally strong show of humanity was also on display. A prime example of this took place when a group of �鶹�� students pitched in to assist those who were affected when a storage facility was flooded. Members of campus sports teams and organizations helped sort, load and discard belongings from tenants, some of whom had rented space for up to 20 years.

Community and Labor Center Releases Farmworker Health Study

February 3rd, 2023

Over a six month period, �鶹��'s Community and Labor Center led a team that surveyed more than 1200 California farmworkers about the challenges they face as part of their jobs. The report that was published – which cited poor working conditions and disparity of healthcare options – was eye-opening and sent shockwaves throughout the agriculture industry.

Record Number of Students Apply at �鶹��

February 27th, 2023

While the number of students enrolling in higher education in the nation is in decline, �鶹�� continues to buck this trend. The university saw over 26,000 first-year students apply for admissions this year, a record number that was boosted by an significant increase in international interest. Overall, most of the applicants came from California.

Solar Films Developed at �鶹�� Test Well in Space

April 12, 2023

Solar cells can be heavy for transport into space, but research headed up by Professor Sayantani Ghosh’s lab aims to make panel production in space a viable option. Solar films that were developed at �鶹��, in collaboration with NASA, yielded promising results during a recent test run on the International Space Station.

Campus Adds New Majors and Emphases

June 12, 2023

As the campus continues to grow, �鶹�� offerings for students follow suit. The university announced five new majors that will come online in 2024, including Chemical Engineering and Data Science. Nine new emphases will be available as well, featuring the much-anticipated Aerospace Engineering. If there is enough interest, these emphases can also develop into majors.

Transformative $9 Million Gift To Boost Undergraduate Support

June 21, 2023

A $9 million gift from an anonymous donor will open the door to �鶹�� for more local high school students. The generous donation to the long-standing Gateway Scholarship Program will create an endowment fund that will provide scholarships to at least 36 incoming Bobcats every year, contributing to the university’s mission of increasing access and opportunity in the region.

Professor Sora Kim Featured on Shark Week

July 17, 2023

This summer, �鶹�� made a cameo in Hollywood when Professor Sora Kim was featured in Discovery Channel’s widely popular Shark Week. Kim’s shark research has fascinated the general public for years, but her work studying the megalodon is what caught the attention of the producers behind “Jaws vs The Meg” – one of the shows featured during the network's annual campaign dedicated to the ocean’s most notorious predator.

�鶹�� Student Appointed UC Student Regent

July 19, 2023

In a first for a �鶹�� student, Josiah Beharry was named the 2024-25 student regent by the UC Board of Regents. Beharry, a graduate student, was selected after a rigorous vetting process and will now represent over 290,000 students enrolled in the UC system. According to the UC website, the student Regent is a full voting member of the Board of Regents and serves a one-year term.

Charles Ogletree, Jr. Passes Away

August 8, 2023

Merced native and �鶹�� champion Charles Ogletree, Jr. left behind a legacy of social justice and education. Ogletree’s inspirational journey takes him from humble beginnings in South Merced to Stanford and, ultimately, Harvard where he received his law degree and later returned to teach and become a mentor to many, including future President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Ogletree delivered the keynote address at �鶹��’s opening ceremony back in 2005.

First Cohort of New BS/MD Pathway Start Classes

August 17, 2023

When the call initially went out, over 1200 high school seniors began the process of applying for only 12 spots in the new medical education program at �鶹��, SJV PRIME+. After the dust settled, 15 students were selected and began their journey to becoming physicians this fall via the university’s BS-to-MD pathway, a partnership with UCSF and UCSF Fresno. Chief among the criteria for the cohort was a commitment to serving the San Joaquin Valley after graduating medical school.

�鶹�� Partners with Merced College to Build Transfer Housing Project

September 1, 2023

A new student housing project will soon be constructed on campus thanks to the expanding partnership between �鶹�� and Merced College. Dubbed the Promise Housing Project – after the Merced Promise transfer pipeline – the development will feature almost 500 beds and address the lack of affordable housing for students in the area. Funding for the $100 million project was made possible by the California Legislature.

�鶹�� Rises Nearly 40 Spots in US News College Rankings

September 17, 2023

�鶹�� had a banner ranking season (late summer) that culminated in a nearly 40 spot jump to No. 60 in the annual US News & World Report College Ranking. Among public universities, �鶹�� came in at No. 28 in the country and No. 7 in the state. The university also rose to No. 4 in the nation in social mobility. �鶹�� had a strong showing in the Wall Street Journal rankings as well, placing No. 15 in the nation for publics and No. 3 in California.

�鶹�� Athletics Takes First Steps to Joining DII

November 14, 2023

In a joint press release, �鶹�� and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announced that Bobcat Athletics would be joining the CCAA, pending the NCAA’s approval of the university’s move to Division II. �鶹�� has been a member of the Cal Pac Conference in the NAIA since 2011. If approved, the Bobcats’ first matches within the CCAA would take place in the 2025-26 season.

UC Regents Approve Funding for Medical Education Building at �鶹��

November 15, 2023

At their November meeting, the UC Board of Regents gave final approval for the construction of a medical education building at �鶹��. The vote approved the design and full budget of the four-story project which will feature 203,500 square feet of instructional, office, research and community space. The facility will be the home of the university’s new BS-to-MD pathway.

Check out the year's top research stories below, based on website page views.

Community and Labor Center Releases Farmworkers Health Study - A new landmark study by the �鶹�� Community and Labor Center shows farmworkers across California are facing serious health challenges on a daily basis.

�鶹�� Professor First to Join DOE-Funded EFRC - Through a prestigious grant from the Department of Energy (DOE), a diverse group of scientists, including a chemist from �鶹��, plan to address that problem by coupling two chemistries which are known to work independently, but don't work well together.

�鶹�� Invests in Next Generation of Ag Tech Leadership - The new �鶹�� Farms Food Future innovation initiative is investing in 10 graduate researchers to solve climate and community challenges. Their work is the start of a concerted focus in climate-smart agriculture for the campus.

Berhe Chosen for National Academy of Engineering - Soil biogeochemistry Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe — who is on leave from �鶹�� while she serves as federal director of the Office of Science for the Department of Energy — has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Research Week Preview - The annual research showcase, hosted by the Office of Research and Economic Development, kicks off with a Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI) event titled “Climate, Environment and Health: Impacting the San Joaquin Valley and Beyond.”

�鶹��-led Project Win NSF Development Award - The CBIO Collaborative is among the more than 40 unique teams to receive one of the first NSF Engines Development Awards, which aim to help partners collaborate economic, societal and technological opportunities for their regions.

UC Awards $164 Million in Grants to Address Climate, Energy and Health - For the first time, �鶹�� faculty members from each of the campus’s three schools have been chosen as principal investigators on some of the 21 exciting new projects that are being funded through UC’s Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI).

Professor Ryals Earns Presidential Chair in Climate Change - Professor Rebecca Ryals has made campus history by being named �鶹��’s inaugural Presidential Chair in Climate Change. The appointment was recommended by her peers and Dean Betsy Dumont from the School of Natural Sciences in recognition of Ryals’ outstanding research, teaching and service.

Grant Funds Collaborative Research Project with LLNL - Materials Science and Engineering Professor Beth Nowadnick has earned a National Science Foundation (NSF) award to study materials that may provide new ways to store or process information.

�鶹�� Research Team’s Paper on Storage Needs for Renewable Energy Published - A paper published by a �鶹�� research team examines how the need for storage can vary for different combinations of renewable resources. The paper compared the merits of solar-only and solar-and-wind power generation grids.

�鶹��'s New Medical Education Director Values Service

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:15:46 +0000

Sam Yniguez, �鶹��

December 11, 2023

Dr. Margo Vener calls her new position as head of medical education at �鶹�� her "dream job."

During college, Dr. Margo Vener was on a completely different career path. Having received a C in chemistry early on, she had all but closed the door on any notion of pursuing a career in medicine. But a conversation with her uncle during her senior year changed all of that.

After telling him she wanted to become a teacher so she could make a difference and really help people in a hands-on way, he suggested it sounded more like she should become a doctor.

“That’s when it clicked,” said Vener. “I hadn't thought of it since I ruled it out after I received a C in that class.”

Adding fuel to her fire, Vener’s college advisor told her it was too late for her to decide to go to medical school. That proved to be the best thing Vener could have heard.

“I was so mad,” said Vener. “Nothing fires me up more than being told I can’t do something. So, I said, ‘I’ll show her’ and signed up for all the science classes, determined to get straight As.”

Cut to this fall when “interim” was removed from her title as director of the Office of Medical Education at �鶹��. It’s the latest in a string of titles she has racked up in her illustrious career, but it’s also her most sought after as it combines both of her passions — caring for the underserved and mentoring the next generation of physicians.

“I grew up in a family that values service and I can’t think of a more wonderful and worthwhile thing to be involved in,” said Vener. “When I first heard about the job, I just thought of what an honor it would be because of the work that’s being done. This is my dream job.”

Her stint as a medical assistant helped Vener develop her passion for patient care. She went to medical school at UCSF, but became anxious after the first year was mostly classroom based.

Wanting to participate in more community outreach, Vener and a group of like-minded students applied for and received a grant to work with the homeless over the summer. That was the precursor to the first UCSF student-led clinics and has transitioned to what is now the Shelter Clinic at USCF — a partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health that has delivered urgent healthcare and referral services to the homeless for over 30 years.

Vener worked at UCSF for 20 years and still practices at the institution’s refugee clinic. She became familiar with the Central Valley’s healthcare woes while on a task force that relocated the San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) from UC Davis to UCSF Fresno in 2018. SJV PRIME and �鶹��’s new B.S.-to-M.D. pathway, SJV PRIME+, offer a tailored track for medical students interested in providing care for the underserved communities in the Valley.

Since taking on the role of interim director about a year and a half ago, Vener’s knowledge of the state of healthcare in the Valley and the challenges facing the people who live here has deepened enormously. And while the current numbers look bleak compared to other regions in California, she said there is reason to be optimistic.

“When I heard about this job in the Valley, I became very excited because, not only is the need there but the community buy-in for medical education is also there,” said Vener. “I’ve been in medical education for a long time, and there is no place where I have seen mission alignment like I have seen here.”

Vener stepped into her new position during a momentous time, with the first student cohort of the university’s new B.S.-to-M.D. pathway beginning classes this fall and the final approval of a 203,500-square-foot medical education building being approved by the UC Board of Regents in November. She is grateful for the work was done by her predecessor, Thelma Hurd, who spearheaded the team that laid the foundation for medical education at �鶹��.

“Among the many things that Dr. Hurd and her team did that I really appreciate was establishing and cultivating the partnerships that we rely on heavily today,” said Vener. “The fact that we had 1,200 initial applicants for the 12 spots in our first cohort says a lot about the work they did and the relationships that were forged.”

As with any new medical education program, Vener is aware of the tough road ahead. But just like that stubborn college student, she welcomes the challenge knowing what’s at stake. She also looks forward to seeing the ripple effect of the new B.S.-to-M.D. pathway and having students return to the Valley to practice medicine and serve as role models in their communities.

In addition to being an inspiration to others who come from the same place they do, Vener said, she hopes to instill a sense of gratitude in her students. She stressed the importance of being humble and thankful for the patients who entrust physicians with their lives.

“It is a privilege to do what we do, and the best thing we can offer patients is comfort that they are being cared for by someone who they know is well-trained,” said Vener. “Someday, when I’m older, I will need medical care. And if I am lying on that gurney and I look up and see a graduate of our program, I will feel like I am in good hands.”

Alyssa Johansen

�鶹�� Medical Education Building Gains Final Approval from UC Regents

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 20:39:30 +0000

By Sam Yniguez, �鶹��

November 15, 2023

At their Nov. 15 meeting, the Regents of the University of California gave final approval for the construction of a new medical education building at �鶹��. The vote approved the final design, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings and the full budget and financing.

The four-story building, designed by the firm ZGF, will feature 203,500 square feet of instructional, academic office, research and community-facing space and common areas. The project has a price tag of $300 million, funded by a combination of state General Fund appropriations, the campus budget and donor gifts.

"We are very pleased by the Regents' show of support for medical education at �鶹��," said �鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. "The lack of quality healthcare options in the region is well-documented, and this new building will enable �鶹�� to train physicians uniquely qualified to address the Valley's health needs."

The new facility will be home to �鶹��'s medical education pathway, which was developed in partnership with UCSF and UCSF Fresno. The first cohort of students began classes this fall. It will also house:

● The departments of Psychological Sciences and Public Health

● The Health Sciences Research Institute

● Allied healthcare-related programs (developed in partnership with community colleges)

● A range of medical education and general assignment learning environments

● Specialty learning spaces for medical education, general assignment classrooms, and class laboratories to support several new and existing academic programs

This project will comply with the University of California Sustainable Practices Policy, which establishes goals for green building, clean energy, transportation, climate protection, facilities operations, zero waste, procurement, food service and water systems. Supporting �鶹��'s carbon neutrality status, the building will be run entirely on clean electricity, without the use of natural gas.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024 with completion slated for fall 2026. Current growth projections show the facility serving approximately 2,220 undergraduates by 2030.

Alyssa Johansen

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹�� Center for Health Equity

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:37:46 +0000

By Francesca Dinglasan, �鶹��

October 23, 2023

�鶹�� Project Scientist Rosa Manzo, Ph.D. (center) with Camarena Health’s Claudia Fabian Chavez (left) and Maria Meraz (right)

�鶹�� was recently awarded a significant grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche group, to create the �鶹�� Center for Health Equity. The initiative will focus on eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity throughout the San Joaquin Valley, particularly among the region’s Hispanic, Latinx, immigrant and rural communities.

Led by Principal Investigator and Project Scientist Rosa Manzo, Ph.D., the Center will implement a community-engaged collaboration model that aims to facilitate and improve communication and engagement among health professionals and the communities they serve.

Through the support of the $1 million grant, the Center will invest in training and promoting community health workers – or promotoras – who will not only assist in addressing cultural gaps and understanding between patients and health care providers but will also participate as co-researchers and policy advocates for issues related to local health disparities.

Manzo and her team are launching the Promotora and Community-Based Education Model in Merced, Tulare and Madera counties in conjunction with agency partners Kaweah Health, Golden Valley Health Centers and Camarena Health. Together, the partners are preparing volunteers and agency staff members to fill the roles of community health workers by training them in such core competencies as service coordination and navigation, outreach, public health principles and social determinants of health.

Manzo said the uniqueness of this model is that promotoras will have the opportunity to directly assist with research efforts on projects of interest to them. Through their status as �鶹�� affiliates, they will have access to training and resources that enable them to participate in various research activities, including data collection and analysis, survey administration, and Spanish-language feedback and input.

“There are a handful of these models, which are mostly centered around outreach and engagement efforts,” said Manzo. “Our promotoras will be involved in data dissemination, research design and research materials. They are participating as researchers and contributing to every aspect of the research process.”

“The cultural element offered by the promotoras is critically important,” added �鶹�� Health Sciences Research Institute Executive Director Trevor Hirst. “They are affecting their communities because the way they communicate is different, and that is bringing the community up as a whole.”

Camarena Health Community Engagement Manager Claudia Chavez has observed the positive effects of the work for both the volunteers and the community members.

“The project not only empowers the promotoras with the tools and resources to help people in their communities, but also makes a tremendous impact on the participants’ lives in managing their health conditions,” she said. “To be able to watch promotoras share their stories of the impact they have made on participants’ lives is immeasurable.”

This latest grant from Genentech is a continuation of its commitment to Manzo’s community-engaged research, with a prior grant contributing support to her project “Promotoras and Community Based Education.” That grant, totaling nearly $500,000, provided funding for the initiative that paired community health workers and medical students in the UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) to address asthma-related health disparities and deliver asthma-management education to the Valley’s underserved populations.

Maria Meraz, who participated in the initial project and will continue serving as the lead promotora at Camarena Health, noted the impact of the work on the local community.

“It was satisfying to know that this collaboration allowed us to bring information to minority communities,” she said. “The comments we received were positive, and people were happy to receive education from promotoras because they inspired confidence.”

“We are deeply grateful to Genentech for its exceptional investment in �鶹�� and Manzo’s work to address health inequities by promoting community health workers whose cultural and linguistic competencies help engage the diverse individuals and families of our region,” said �鶹�� Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Oﬃcer E. Edward Klotzbier. “We look forward to finding new opportunities for collaboration that build on and further grow these important efforts.”

Genentech’s $1 million grant is among the pivotal philanthropic gifts that are advancing Boldly Forward: The Campaign for �鶹��. Boldly Forward aims to raise $200 million over the next decade, with gifts and pledges received since the campaign's launch nearing $100 million.

Samuel Yniquez

Campus and Academic Growth Highlighted in �鶹�� State of the University Address

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:15:11 +0000

Alyssa Flores Johansen, �鶹��

October 12, 2023

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz delivers 2023 State of the University address.

Distinguished rankings, new academic offerings, world-class research and campus expansions were among the highlights of the �鶹�� State of the University address delivered by Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz.

"The state of this 20-year-old institution is unparalleled in the history of American higher education," said Muñoz. "And now I would like to invite you to join me in imagining an even more impactful future for our campus, faculty, staff and students."

Muñoz addressed the campus community and the public this week, highlighting the university's many achievements in the past year:

Rankings

The university saw the highest rankings in its history this fall. U.S. News & World Report ranked �鶹�� No. 60 overall in the nation, No. 28 among all public universities and No. 4 in the country for advancing students' social mobility. The Wall Street Journal ranked �鶹�� ranked No. 15 among public universities in the country and No. 3 among California public institutions.

Record Admissions

This year, the university admitted a record number of first-year and transfer students to claim a historically high enrollment of close to 9,200. The largest first-year class of 2,417 students comes almost entirely from California: more than 30 percent from the Central Valley, about 27 percent from the Bay Area and 26 percent from Southern California. Sixty percent of these students are Pell Grant-eligible and more than 62 percent are first-generation undergraduates.

SJV Prime+ | B.S. to M.D. Pathway

Among �鶹��'s newest students are the first 15 in the B.S. to M.D. pathway. These students will pursue their undergraduate degrees and the first 18 months of their medical education on �鶹��'s campus, and then complete their M.D.s at UCSF-Fresno. Each one is a native of the Central Valley - from Stockton to Bakersfield - familiar with the region and profoundly aware of its healthcare needs. The group represents a great diversity of backgrounds - some the children of physicians, some first-generation college students, some the children of recent immigrants and others of multi-generation Californians.

New Infrastructure

This spring, �鶹�� hopes to break ground on a new medical education building - plans for which drew Gov. Gavin Newsom to campus to personally support, and to which the UC Board of Regents should give final approval in November.

Another groundbreaking will be held for a new intersegmental housing project - the Promise Housing - arising from the campus's Promise Program with Merced College, and now with several other colleges and districts. It will offer 488 new affordable beds to transfer students and those eligible for transfer, building a living-learning community for students with like pursuits.

Additionally, the university is planning for the Classroom and Office Building 3 to accommodate growth in academic programs.

New Academic Offerings

With recently approved majors such as chemical engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, environmental humanities and two tracks of data science, new emphases such as sociology's justice, law and society track and the astrophysics track in the physics department, �鶹�� is leveraging the research strength and intellectual breadth of the faculty to attract new students and new faculty and to address even more of society's and the world's challenges. Muñoz applauded Professor Holly Moyes and the committee that helped lead the formation of the university's new Honors Program.

Admitting More Valley Students

�鶹�� has expanded its automatic admissions programs to 18 Valley school districts, incorporating 60 high schools. These programs allow students who meet UC qualifications to be accepted to �鶹�� without the full traditional application process. There are three Promise transfer programs with community colleges - in Merced, Fresno and Modesto - that facilitate transfers for those seeking to advance their associate's degrees to bachelor's or even doctorates.

Top-Tier Faculty and World-Class Research

In his address, Muñoz touted the distinguished faculty at �鶹�� - applauding the 35 National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipients among faculty and the work of researchers including those at the Community and Labor Center and the Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology and Agriculture (VISTA).

"Here in California's Central Valley, we are focused in both our research and our community engagement on the challenges that matter to our people: health care, affordable housing, farmworkers' well-being, public education, agriculture, water, fire and the environment," said Muñoz.

The university has been designated an Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), and the new experimental smart farm, just to the south of the main campus, is engaging faculty and students to find more efficient and effective ways of managing the crops that are the economic engine of the Central Valley. As part of the AES designation, �鶹�� will receive annual support of $1.5 million from the state of California, as well as support from Hatch Act funds and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

�鶹�� faculty members have received more than $91.1 million in external research funding this year. Eleven awards were for more than $1 million, including:

$20 million from the Federal Economic Development Administration - Professor Joshua Viers
$5.9 million from the California Department of Industrial Relations - Professor Mai Ka Yang
$2.9 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine - Professor Kara McCloskey
$2.4 million from the National Science Foundation - Professor Michele Nishiguchi. This is the annual allocation from a $12 million grant she received last year.

Athletics

This fall, �鶹�� admitted its largest recruited class of student-athletes. The university is considering an invitation to join a NCAA DII conference. The decision will involve a number of critical conversations that will take place across the campus over the coming year, including with the faculty and staff. It would also require the formation of a governing committee, should the process move forward.

"�鶹��, though a mere two decades old, is taking its rightful place among the great institutions of this country," said Muñoz. "This comes from a clear vision for the future and sharing that vision with those who care to hear - of being first, moving further, and always driving forward."

University of California, Merced - SJV PRIME

From Dreams to Degrees: Graduates Celebrate with Scholarship Donors

Medical Education at �鶹����� Grows; Adds New Students, Faculty

University’s Strength Lies in Opportunities for Social Mobility, Chancellor Says

From Bakersfield to a ‘Peaceful’ Place to Pursue Science, Medicine

Following the Mission to Improve Valley Health Care

2023: A Look Back

�鶹�����'s New Medical Education Director Values Service

�鶹����� Medical Education Building Gains Final Approval from UC Regents

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹����� Center for Health Equity

Campus and Academic Growth Highlighted in �鶹����� State of the University Address

Medical Education at �鶹�� Grows; Adds New Students, Faculty

�鶹��'s New Medical Education Director Values Service

�鶹�� Medical Education Building Gains Final Approval from UC Regents

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹�� Center for Health Equity

Campus and Academic Growth Highlighted in �鶹�� State of the University Address