Commencement Highlights

UCSF Fresno Graduates to Care for Patients and Teach Future Physicians

One hundred medical residents and fellows along with four oral and maxillofacial surgery dental residents and five physician assistants completed training at UCSF Fresno this year for a total of 109 graduates. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UCSF Fresno celebrated the occasion for the second year in a row with a virtual commencement on June 10. Many of the graduates stayed in the Central Valley to care for patients, teach future physicians or continue their medical education.

“Under the leadership of our faculty, trainees pivoted and persevered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent surge,” said Michael W. Peterson, MD, associate dean at UCSF Fresno. “They continued their critical work in learning environments, at bedsides and in the community, while addressing the renewed movement for social justice that calls on each of us to recognize, reject and break down systemic barriers and racism. We are pleased to have helped them fine tune their skills. We are incredibly proud of the health professionals they are today and particularly delighted that so many are staying in the Central Valley.”

Graduates from Community Medical Centers’ General Dentistry Residency program also were recognized.

2021 Commencement Highlights

• 60% of residents and fellows completing training in the

Department of Emergency Medicine stayed in the Central

Valley to provide care • 47% of residents and fellows who completed training in the Department of Family and Community Medicine stayed in the region to provide much needed primary care • 50% of Internal Medicine residents stayed in the Valley • Both fellows in the Infectious Diseases Program stayed in

Fresno as faculty at UCSF Fresno to train physicians and provide desperately needed expertise in the community to address COVID-19 and other infectious diseases • 46% of residents who completed training in the

Department of Pediatrics stayed in the region • 25% of residents who completed Psychiatry training stayed in the Valley and 75% stayed in California or 1 out of 4 graduating Psychiatry residents stayed in the Valley and 3 stayed in California • 40% of all UCSF Fresno 2021 graduates stayed in the

Central Valley • 75% of all graduates stayed in California to provide care, teach or continue their education

Monica Gaines, DO UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program, “Outstanding First-Year Resident,” Community Medical Centers (CMC) Chirag Rajyaguru, DO UCSF Fresno Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, “Outstanding Resident or Fellow Teacher,” CMC

Leigh Ann O'Banion, MD UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery, “Borba Faculty Research Award” Aalam Sohal, MD UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program,” “Borba House Staff Research – Resident Award”

Kinsely Hubel, MD UCSF Fresno Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship, “Leon S. Peters Fellow of the Year Award,” Leon S. Peters Foundation Mohammed Bukari, MD UCSF Fresno Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, “Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching”

Award Recipients

Eyad Almasri, MD UCSF Fresno Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship, “Outstanding Teacher,” CMC

Sunny Sandhu, MD UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program, “ICare Award,” VA Central California Health Care System

Mackensie Yore, MD UCSF Fresno Emergency Medicine Residency Program, “Steven N. Parks Leadership Award,” Fresno Madera Medical Society Nadine Musullam, PharmD Community Regional Medical Center, “Outstanding Non-Physician Teacher,” CMC

Amitpaul Gill, MD UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program, “Leon S. Peters Resident of the Year Award,” Leon S. Peters Foundation