With a focus on addressing the increasing health professional shortage, UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research developed the Doctors Academy program in 1999. The program began as a joint partnership between UCSF Fresno, Fresno Unified School District, and the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. The first graduating class from the Doctors Academy was in 2003 from Sunnyside High School. This was soon followed by the Caruthers High School graduating class of 2010. Middle school programming was also integrated through the Junior Doctors Academy program and currently has four school sites that host the program that include Caruthers Elementary, Kings Canyon Middle School, Sequoia Middle School and Terronez Middle School. Dr. Katherine Flores is the founding director. Funding is provided by school district contracts, grants, and the UCSF Fresno Associate Dean's office all contribute to the funding.
