Katherine A. Flores, MD
Director
Dr. Katherine Flores is a former farmworker and an alum of Stanford University and UC Davis School of Medicine. She is an Associate Clinical Professor with the UCSF School of Medicine and Director of the UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research. For over 30 years, she has been passionate in developing and advocating for pipeline programs that recruit and retain underserved and underrepresented youth into health careers. In collaboration with health and education partners, she initiated the Doctors Academy in Fresno County, which is a longitudinal, comprehensive health pathway program that serves youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. She also serves with several organizations that support health workforce development such as the California Endowment Board of Directors, the California Blue Shield Foundation Board of Directors, and serves as the Director of the California Health Professions Consortium. Additionally, she maintains a bilingual family medicine practice in Fresno, California.
Stephanie Huerta Alvarez, MPH
Education Director
Stephanie Huerta Alvarez grew up in the small, rural farm town of Caruthers, CA and is an alumnus of the first DA cohort at Caruthers High School. In 2016, she joined UCSF Fresno LaCMER as a JDA/DA Academic Program Coordinator and as of January 2022 is the Education Director. As a first generation student and teen parent, she graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Biology with a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. She also became the first in her family to complete a graduate degree and has a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Berkeley. Stephanie’s personal and professional work experiences has shaped her efforts to identify and bridge the gaps in the K-16 health career pathway for future health professionals, increase educational attainment in rural and urban communities in the Central San Joaquin Valley and diversify the health care workforce. Along with her husband, who is also an alumni of the Doctors Academy, she enjoys spending her free time traveling to hers kids’ sporting events, crafting and finding new local restaurants and small businesses.
Education and Training
- University of California, Santa Cruz, BS in Human Biology and minor in Latin American and Latino Studies
- University of California, Berkeley, MPH with a concentration in Community Health
Angela Allison
Academic Program Coordinator
A native of Sanger, Angela Allison joined the UCSF Fresno LaCMER team in 2009 as an Administrative Assistant. Having worked in this role for many years, she was promoted in 2019 to Academic Program Coordinator. Angela supports the JDA and DA by recruiting and scheduling guest speakers, alumni support, and senior summer shadowing experience. Angela enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage children, treasure hunting at yard sales, the outdoors and reading.
Education and Training
- Kings River Community College, AA in General Studies
- California State University, Fresno, BS in Business Administration Marketing
- California State University, Fresno, MA (in progress) in Curriculum and Instruction
- California State University, Fresno, Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Technology (in progress)
Paula Peterson, MS, PPS
Academic Program Coordinator
Born and raised in the Central Valley and having spent 17+ years in the field of education in various roles, Paula understands the diverse area and population she serves. Paula began her professional career at Fresno City College as a counselor and coordinator serving foster youth and homeless/unaccompanied youth as they learned to navigate college life. She ran support programs in Student Services and EOPS, taught counseling courses, advised students, created educational plans, coordinated events, and assisted with student needs. She made the move to UCSF Fresno in November of 2018 as an Academic Program Coordinator and has served as the Coordinator of the Doctors Academy Program at Sunnyside High School in Southeast Fresno since that time. Paula’s hobbies include spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, photography, volunteering, and mission work.
Education and Training
- Fresno Pacific University, BA in Liberal Arts, Emphasis in Education
- National University, MS in Educational Counseling
- National University, Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS) for Counseling
Karina Reyes Banuelos, MA Ed
Academic Program Coordinator
Alumni of the Selma High School Doctors Academy Program and a first generation college student, Karina credits Doctors Academy with providing resources and support that allowed her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish at Fresno Pacific University. Karina obtained her Masters of Arts in Education - Educational Leadership and Administration from California State University, Fresno. She has worked in a variety of educational support programs to help students and families transition into college. She has been with UCSF since 2019 and has thoroughly enjoyed growing personally and professionally through her work with students and community members. The best part of her job is assisting students become the better version of themselves by helping them accomplish their personal, educational and career goals. When Karina is not working with students, she is usually traveling, hiking and fishing with her husband and family.
Education and Training
- Fresno Pacific University, BA in Political Science and minor in Spanish
- California State University, Fresno, M.A. Ed in Educational Leadership and Administration
Shawna Rogers, MA Ed
Academic Program Coordinator
Shawna Rogers was born and raised in southeast Fresno and understands the community in which she works every day. She is a first-generation college student, graduating from Reedley College with an AA in Child Development, Fresno State University with a BA in Liberal Studies, and University of Phoenix with a Masters in Elementary Education. Her University of California career started in 2011 when she was first hired as a program coordinator for UCCE and began working with LaCMER in 2016 where she currently works as an Academic Program Coordinator. She is blessed to be part of a pathway that allows her to help guide future valley health professionals. Shawna enjoys spending time with her family and friends going to Grizzlies Baseball, Fresno State football, and Madera Speedway along with Sunday worship and fellowship.
Education and Training
- Reedley College, AA in Child Development
- California State University, Fresno, BA in Liberal Studies
- University of Phoenix, M.A. Ed. in Elementary Education
Paz Delsid
Administrative Officer II
Born and raised in Fresno, Paz Delsid is the Administrative Officer for the department and has worked in education for 12+ years. Her role is to coordinate the California Health Professions Consortium (chpc.ucsf.edu), support the Doctors Academy educational team and assist leadership. She graduated with an Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts from Fresno City College. She then continued her education while working full time and with family support, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University. She formerly worked with school libraries by consulting, conducting workshops and supporting their program goals. She loves pink and abhors squirrels. Life is sometimes too busy to cozy up with a traditional book, so she reads subtitles, articles, blogs, and picture books with her littles all the time.
Education and Training
- Fresno City College, AA in Liberal Arts
- Fresno Pacific University, BA in Business Administration