SJV-MedBridge Participants Get to Walk in Clovis Medical Students’ Shoes

In pursuit of a medical career, community college students in the San Joaquin Valley-MedBridge Scholars program took the unique opportunity to walk in the shoes of medical students during an in-person session at the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) in Clovis.

Launched in the fall of 2023 through the Senate Bill 40 (California Medicine Scholars Program), SJV-MedBridge was developed by the UCSF School of Medicine Fresno Regional campus (UCSF Fresno) in partnership with Fresno State, community colleges in the San Joaquin Valley, California Health Sciences University, and multiple medical education programs.

This pre-medical pathway program unites widespread resources focused on supporting local community college students on a path toward becoming a physician, including advising services, guidance in transferring to a four-year university, and medical experiences.

“We’re currently serving over 100 community college students from across eight counties in the Valley, and we’re excited about all our current and future events with CHSU and other local partners,” said Sydney Farnesi, Program Supervisor, SJV MedBridge.

On February 6, during the “Medical Student for a Day” session, the college students joined medical students in two classes at CHSU-COM. They were introduced to performing Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OMM/OPP) on patients to address muscular pain. They also experienced cooking a nutritional meal for a pregnant patient through culinary medicine in the Teaching Kitchen, a unique aspect of CHSU-COM that speaks to the whole-person approach of osteopathic medicine.

“We’re fortunate to give our students the opportunity to see themselves in the CHSU medical students who might have a similar story or background,” shared Farnesi, “so they know what it’s like to attend medical school and stay in the Central Valley.”

Planning to serve patients in the Valley, Nikki Lee Garcia is a first-year college student at Clovis Community College who joined SJV-MedBridge and felt inspired by shadowing and interacting with the medical students at CHSU-COM.

“It was really motivating to be around the medical students because I want to be like them in medical school, too,” said Garcia. “I’m thinking about physical therapy, but I think it’s good to be open-minded about other options, especially in healthcare. Trying out osteopathic medicine was interesting to me because it connects physical movement, visualizing, and feeling to help people.”

Through SJV-MedBridge, Garcia has enjoyed the significant advantages of clinical experiences to see doctors in action and building her network while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in biology.

“College students should definitely apply to SJV-MedBridge,” shared Garcia, “It’s not just sitting somewhere and listening to a lecture like in a normal class. I think the experience is very hands-on and eye-opening with supportive instructors.”

SJV-MedBridge is open to all current community college students who are interested in pursuing medicine, have completed at least 12 units at a community college in the Valley, and do not have a bachelor’s degree. Visit the SJV-MedBridge Scholars Program website to sign-up for more information.