The stethoscopes may come later, but the commitment to community was clear as UC Merced welcomed its newest SJV PRIME+ students last weekend. The Student and Family Welcome event marked the beginning of an eight-year journey for 15 students who will progress from bachelor’s degrees at UC Merced to medical degrees from the UCSF School of Medicine, and complete clinical training at UCSF Fresno — all with a shared mission to strengthen health care in the San Joaquin Valley.
A Celebration of Purpose
Faculty, staff and leaders from all three campuses gathered to mark the occasion, underscoring the critical role of the new pathway in addressing the San Joaquin Valley’s severe physician shortage. For students, the day was both celebratory and humbling, as they accepted their place in an academic journey that carries responsibility far beyond themselves.
“This is truly a magnificent moment,” said Dr. Margo Vener, Chair of UC Merced’s Department of Medical Education. “We have the best job in the world — to train future doctors for the Valley. Our students are beginning a journey to become physicians who are worthy of their patients’ trust.”
Vener reminded students and families that medical training is never an individual pursuit, but a collective one. “When we take a journey like this, we don’t do it alone,” she said, recognizing the sacrifices of families, staff and faculty across UC Merced, UCSF and UCSF Fresno whose efforts have made the pathway possible.
A Call to Serve
In his remarks, UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz celebrated the students’ achievements while issuing a challenge: to remember the Valley communities that made their education possible.
“You distinguished yourself through your hard work, your talent and your commitment, and you’ve chosen the call to serve,” Muñoz said. “There will be opportunities in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and the Bay Area, but I hope you remember that it was the Valley; Chowchilla, Fresno, Madera – that afforded you this professional life.”
He underscored the Valley’s role as the nation’s agricultural heartland, noting that the people who sustain global food supplies “deserve the best doctors in the world.” To the families in attendance, he added, “This achievement is also yours. No one gets to this podium by themselves; no one puts on that white coat alone.”
Bringing Training Home
For Dr. Kenny Banh, UCSF Fresno Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, the launch of SJV PRIME+ in 2023 builds on UCSF Fresno’s 50 years of graduate medical education in the region. Each year, nearly 300 residents and fellows train at UCSF Fresno, making it a longstanding anchor for advanced medical training in the Central Valley.
“To truly expand access to health care for all, we must increase the quantity and quality of physicians practicing in the San Joaquin Valley, particularly those who grew up in the region and understand the health conditions pertinent to the Valley,” Banh said.
Banh, who was born in a refugee camp in Pennsylvania and now oversees UCSF Fresno’s mobile medical clinic, reminded students that their own unique backgrounds equip them to serve Valley communities. “We expect you to be leaders in the communities you are privileged to serve in public health, in community engagement, and with all patient populations,” he said. “That’s why we looked for you.”
A Shared Commitment
Throughout the program, students expressed gratitude for the opportunity and a collective pledge to serve the region. “Together, we dedicate our future as physicians to advancing health equity in the Central Valley,” said Caden Cal, who described medicine as the “perfect intersection between science and service.”
Several students shared deeply personal motivations for pursuing medicine:
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Sanya Nath, credited her pediatrician’s care with inspiring her to become a physician for underserved children.
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Aminah Carter hopes to become an endocrinologist and a “catalyst for education and change.”
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Mariah Dhillon pointed to her lifelong fascination with neurology and promised to bring empathy and passion to every patient encounter.
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Adam Badawia emphasized that his cultural and community experiences would allow him to build trust with future patients.
The cohort spoke with one voice about their mission. “Our goal is to become doctors that the San Joaquin Valley can rely on to surpass their expectations,” said Litzy Ramirez Paz-Caruthers, echoing a shared commitment that resonated throughout the event.
Looking Forward
For UC Merced and its partners, the launch of SJV PRIME+ is more than the creation of an academic pathway – it is a promise to the Valley. It represents a new generation of physicians who will not only train in the region but remain here to serve. Their path forward is more than a personal achievement; it is a collective step toward stronger, more accessible and more equitable health care for the San Joaquin Valley.
