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.

CHCI (Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute) will bring high school students from across the nation to Washington, D.C. to spend five days learning about how the Federal Government works, meeting important leaders, visiting historic sites and developing a deeper understanding of how they can affect positive change in their communities and their nation.

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.

The Doctors Academy (DA) is a challenging school-within-a school program at Caruthers, Selma and Sunnyside High Schools for students interested in health professional careers. The program provides extended academic, personal, and career counseling as well as test preparation.

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School is located in Antioch, CA a primarily underserved community. Each year, we host a program for their junior physiology class in which students visit UCSF and experience a pathology seminar, visit to the Kanbar Center, hear from a UCSF faculty member and learn about medical school admissions.