Diversity Hub

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.

Mentoring in Medicine & Science is a 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is to increase the number of underrepresented health professionals through mentorship, leadership development and career exposure. The purpose of the summer internship is to expose Pre-med/Pre-health high school, college and post-baccalaureate students to hands-on clinical experience in a variety of health settings. MIMS participants are immersed in direct patient observation, shadow mentors, interact with health professionals and attend daily leadership development seminars.

The overall purpose of the initiative is to increase the participation of evaluators and academics from underrepresented groups in the profession of evaluation and in the American Evaluation Association. The MSI Faculty Initiative identifies this group of potential and practicing evaluators by drawing from faculty at MSIs. The program focuses on: (1) Broadening their understanding of evaluation as a profession; and (2) Strengthening their knowledge of evaluation theory and methods through workshops, webinars, mentoring and experiential projects.

SUHLA is a summer academy for rising 11th graders participating in the FACES for the Future-SF program at the O'Connell High School Health & Science Lab. SUHLA participants will learn key concepts of community health, social justice, advocacy, and social determinants of health through the lens of health and human rights, especially as it relates to the SF Mission District. We are recruiting graduate students in the fields of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy as SUHLA Fellows. The SUHLA Fellowship is a total of 6 weeks during the summer. This begins with a primer session before the summer academy, where Fellows receive training in teaching skills, small group facilitation, program implementation/evaluation, and community assessment. The Fellowship is followed by the 3 week academy in which the Fellows will take on an instructive role and facilitate the curricular sessions. This will largely take place at SFGH with some sessions at other UCSF-associated campuses. The Academy will culminate in with SFGH Family Health Center community fair, at which academy HS participants will present to their community highlighting health topics.