March 10, 2025

Written by Aicha Naouai (Class of 2027)

On February 8^th, 2025, three CHSU-COM student organizations - Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC), Valley Reach, and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) - collaborated at MiMentor’s Community Health Fair in Visalia, CA.

MiMentor is an organization dedicated to supporting individuals pursuing healthcare careers through mentorship and access to pre-medical resources, with the mission of empowering them to serve and uplift underserved communities.

This free event provided the community with preventative healthcare services including flu vaccines, dental screenings, and health check-ups. Additionally, attendees received health education, housing assistance resources, clothes, and food. In addition to providing aid to those in need, the health fair permitted future healthcare providers to engage with resource-limited communities to become inspired to dedicate their careers to serving these populations.

OPC provided harm reduction resources including naloxone and fentanyl testing strips following a demonstration on how to use them. Valley Reach educated participants on the importance of staying up to date on their vaccinations and how to protect themselves against Avian influenza (Bird Flu).

The week before the health fair, ACOFP organized a clothing and food drive at CHSU-COM for students, faculty, and staff to donate items, which were brought to the fair for attendees to take for free. While providing healthcare resources to underserved communities is crucial, it is equally important to address their basic needs and ensure they have access to essential items.

Alongside CHSU-COM’s OPC, Valley Reach, and ACOFP, MiMentor is planning to make their Community Health Fair a recurring event to bring essential services and support to the Central Valley.

Photo Caption:

Standing Left to Right: Brooke Guenther, Phil De Vera, Negin Fadaee

Seated Left to Right: Savanna Lee, Giana Davlantes, Briana Anderson 

CHSU Muslim Student Association (MSA) recently partnered with WiseCare Medical Clinic and Saint Agnes Emergency Medicine to host a Community Blood Pressure Screening Clinic. This outreach initiative aimed to give back to the community by spreading awareness about hypertension, providing free blood pressure screenings, and counseling participants on lifestyle modifications for better cardiovascular health.

Hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions. At the event, CHSU medical students educated attendees on the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring, dietary adjustments, exercise, stress management, and other preventive measures to help maintain optimal blood pressure levels.

The event was a great success, with numerous community members benefiting from free screenings and valuable health education. CHSU MSA is committed to bridging the gap between medical education and community service, ensuring vital health resources and knowledge reach those in need.

The CHSU MSA Board extends a heartfelt thank you to our incredible CHSU faculty, Drs. Ruqayya Gill, Sumera Hayat, Faiza Nawaz, and Gullerana Ahmad, for their unwavering support and guidance for this event.

Congratulations to Sherese Richards, MD, MBA, MMEd, Chair and Associate Professor of Biomedical Education, on her appointment as a Reviewer for the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

This prestigious role is a testament to Dr. Richard’s exceptional expertise and commitment to higher education.  

Dr. Richards has been a valuable member of the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2021. 

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Richards!

Claudia Lopez, MS, Adjunct Instructor in Biomedical Education, and CHSU student doctors attended the Clovis Community Medical Center's Women's Heart Health Fair on February 22nd.

They hosted a table where they provided nutrition education to attendees and played interactive games where they focused on building a healthy plate! 

Students were able to utilize the content they learned in their recent Culinary Medicine classes that covered heart health topics.

Event attendees first went through a health screening, and then attended our table to learn how to manage their blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and how to eat for heart health. 

Written by Oluwabomi (Bomi) Adekoya, MS

What began as a collaborative team project in the Master of Biomedical Sciences program at California Health Sciences University (CHSU) has grown into a significant scholarly contribution to cancer research.

We are thrilled to announce that a review article by members of our inaugural master’s class has been published in MDPI Cells, Special Issue: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics: Wnt Signaling in Cancer.

Under the guidance of Dr. Anitha Shenoy, current CHSU medical students (and graduates from the MSBS program) Anirudh Nayak, Hannah Streiff, and Itzcoatl Silva, along with their MSBS graduate classmates Ivan Gonzalez and Oluwabomi Adekoya, demonstrated remarkable effort and dedication in producing this publication—a true testament to the rigorous academic foundation and research opportunities provided at CHSU.

Congratulations to Joseph Lin, MBt, EdD for completing his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from American College of Education.

Dr. Lin is an Adjunct Instructor in the Biomedical Education Department at CHSU-COM and at the CHSU-CBHP.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lin!

Student doctor George Hourany and Francisco Ibarra, PharmD, BCCCP, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomedical Education at CHSU-COM, published a manuscript in the American College of Gastroenterology Case Reports Journal along with two providers from Cedars-Sinai.

The title of the manuscript is, "Isotretinoin-Induced Pill Esophagitis." An excerpt from the Introduction reads: Pill esophagitis is a condition characterized by injury and inflammation to the esophageal mucosa, resulting from ingestion of certain medications. Common presenting symptoms include odynophagia, dysphagia, and chest pain, with potential associated complications

including esophageal ulceration or strictures, and rarely gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, intramural hematoma, and mediastinitis.

George Hourany

Dr. Francisco Ibarra

A student team of medical students in the Physicians Role in the Health System (PRHS) course created a PSA campaign to raise awareness for colorectal cancer screening.

In partnership with United Health Centers, second-year medical students Hailey Jenkins, Eeman Khan, Omid Dehghan, Sanamjit Singh, Nitan Kumar, Jacob Afable, and Lakshyaa Balakrishnan created a graphic image and video to encourage people to ask their doctors about a simple, at home colorectal cancer screening test.  

Join the CHSU Fresno Polar Plunge team set up by Matt Basgall, CHSU Director of Security, to support the Special Olympics NorCal.

The Fresno Polar Plunge will be held on Saturday, March 15 at the Millerton Lake Crow's Nest Boat Dock.

Find the Fresno Polar Plunge on the website and register for the CHSU team.

Written by Lynn Fadel and Anurag Sandhu

Our team and was honored to initiate our community project from our Physicians Role in the Health System (PRHS) course, which aims to identify the social determinants of health that influence diabetes care access in Merced, CA.

We gathered data by distributing a meticulously crafted survey to patients, enabling us to explore ways in which future physicians can bridge gaps in healthcare delivery within the Central Valley. As a resource in this region of California, it is imperative to obtain direct input from the affected population to foster the development of novel avenues to care.

As pictured below on the left, student doctor Lynn Fadel translated the survey in Spanish to promote inclusion and representation. We extend our gratitude to Golden Valley Health Centers and CHSU for their partnership in making this initiative a reality.

Congratulations to Reena Lamichhane Khadka, MS, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Education and Director of Academic Achievement on her collaborative work with Dr. Antje Lauer from CSU Bakersfield that will be supported by the Valley Fever Americas Award. 

The research project titled, "Detection of Coccidioides from dust samples collected from Fresno and Kern counties," is funded with a grant from the Valley Fever Americas Foundation. 

CHSU medical students Jadd Bahaaldin, Andrew Insco, Erika Kelly, and Husnaa Formoli will work with Dr. Khadka on the research project collecting samples on a monthly-basis for the next year and examining them to determine if Cocci is present in air samples in Clovis. Dr. Lauer and students from CSU Bakersfield will do the same research in Bakersfield simultaneously.

This research team is excited to use the bench research lab at CHSU's 120 N. Clovis building for their project and hopes it will help improve population health in our region.

Written by Mariya Leshchuk, CHSU-COM Class of 2027 Overdose Prevention Officer

On Tuesday, February 11th, the Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) hosted an on-campus opioid overdose and naloxone training workshop for the Office of Student Affairs at the CHSU-COM. Over a dozen staff members were trained on how to administer naloxone on a manikin and effectively respond to an overdose.

The Class of 2027 OPC officers—Mariya Leshchuk, Aicha Naouai, Negin Fadaee, and Andrew Insco—delivered a presentation on recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose. The presentation covered key topics such as the pharmacology of opioids and naloxone, various sources of opioids, and symptoms of an overdose. The presentation culminated in a simulated overdose for attendees to practice identifying and responding to such situations effectively on OPC’s manikin, Anikin. 

CHSU-COM has a Naloxone Policy in place that allows trained campus security, faculty, staff, and students to administer naloxone to anyone on campus in case of an emergency. The policy was established to permit CHSU-COM members to administer the lifesaving medication in case of an emergency when medical personnel are not immediately available. In line with this policy, the CHSU Office of Student Affairs play a key role in ensuring staff are trained and prepared to respond effectively. Naloxone is stored on campus in all first aid kits and can be obtained by contacting OPC, with no questions asked. 

As part of OPC’s commitment to employing Harm Reduction strategies, staff were also educated on how to use Dosetest fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl test strips are a preventative measure intended to detect fentanyl-laced products and prevent individuals from unknowingly taking fentanyl and overdosing. In contrast, naloxone is a treatment measure intended to reverse opioid-induced cardiovascular collapse after an individual has overdosed.

By providing this training, OPC is creating a safer campus environment and equipping staff with the tools and knowledge necessary to act quickly in the event of an overdose. The Office of Student Affairs’ receptiveness to employing opioid overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies is an additional step toward safeguarding the well-being of the entire CHSU community.

Hypothesis: Research Journal for Health Information Professionals.

Date:   March 21, 2025

Time:   10:00-10:30 am

Place:   Online

Join us as we explore the history of Hypothesis, an open-access journal for librarians and health information professionals.

Dedicated to advancing scholarship and practice, Hypothesis is an excellent platform for first-time authors to share evidence-based studies, innovative ideas, and collaborative projects. Publishing here not only enhances your professional profile but also contributes to the growth of our field.

Presented by:

Lisa Ennis, DrPH, MA, MS, MPH

Dean & Professor of Library and Information Sciences

University of South Carolina Aiken

We are committed to providing students from our Central Valley and beyond with the opportunity to pursue life-changing education at CHSU. We recognize many students face financial barriers during their academic journey, so the CHSU Scholarship Fund was created to help ease their financial burden.

CHSU hosted two recent events to help build a robust CHSU Scholarship Fund for our students.

8th Annual Ignite The Future Scholarship Gala

This past Friday, our partners and friends attended the 8th annual Ignite the Future Scholarship Gala. It was an elegant evening and our guests enjoyed learning about CHSU's accomplishments and conversing with our leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Laura Gutierrez-Rivera, DO, CHSU-COM alumnus from the inaugural class of 2024, spoke from the heart about her higher education journey and experiences as a first-year resident physician in Emergency Medicine at Kaweah Health Medical Center.

Nicole Njike-Bobga, CHSU-MSBS Class of 2025 President, inspired the guests with her journey towards becoming a physician and experiences as a nurse, wife, mother, and now a student again.

In addition to the sponsors who supported the event, there was a silent auction and energetic live auction of donated items.

It was a wonderful evening of friendship, networking, and building lasting relationships amongst our CHSU community and our partners.

We are grateful to all those who helped plan, set up, participate, and host another successful Gala!

Valentine's Tea and Social

In February, CHSU hosted its third annual Valentine's Tea and Social at the CHSU-COM campus. The event was envisioned by a Vision Committee who founded The One Hundred, a group of women leaders who mobilize the power, passion, philanthropy, and principles of women committed to supporting CHSU students through scholarships. 

Marissa Monazzami, DO, CHSU-COM alumnus from the inaugural class of 2024, spoke at the Tea and shared she most likely would not have pursued medical school if not for CHSU being built in her hometown.

Guests enjoyed the scrumptious food, great company, and lovely silent auction and raffle of donated items. We enjoyed meeting new friends of existing members of the The One Hundred, many of whom have decided to join!

To learn more about supporting our CHSU students - our future physicians and healthcare providers - contact Chandler Jameson, Director of Development, at cjameson@chsu.edu.

By Mlyn McCune

I have endometriosis, a disease where lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing severe pain, fatigue, and other complications. It’s not just bad cramps or something all women go through. It’s a chronic illness that affects daily life, relationships, fertility, and even organ function.

I’ve had endometriosis since I was 13 years old, and still deal with it today at 26. In those years, I’ve had over 14 surgeries to remove scar tissue, endometriosis growth, and recurring cysts. Due to the extreme pain, at 20 years old I had a hysterectomy, something I never thought I’d have to face so young. But even after all of that, I’m still here, still fighting, because this disease doesn’t just disappear.

For years, I was told my pain was normal that I was just overreacting, being dramatic, or that it was ‘part of being a woman’ But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

The Policy Development Committee (PDC) at CHSU is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on the University's official policies, including new policies and amendments or revisions to existing ones. The PDC meets regularly and forwards its recommendations to President Dunn for approval. Once approved, the new and revised Policies are posted on our CHSU website at: https://chsu.edu/policies/. At the February Committee meeting, PDC reviewed and recommended approval of new and revised policies. The following policies were approved by President Dunn on March 3, 2025:

MSBS Admissions and Enrollment Policy for Class of 2026 (New)

Each year, the College of Biosciences and Health Professions updates its Admissions and Enrollment Policy as it prepares to review applications for admission. The Admissions and Enrollment Policy for the Class of 2026 is generally consistent with the policy approved for the Class of 2025, but has been revised with new details concerning the Two-Year Research Track Program for the MSBS degree.

Addendum to CHSU Unlawful Harassment and Title IX Policy and Procedures-Pregnancy (Revised)

CHSU recently approved an addendum to the Title IX Policy to explain the University’s policies and procedures for handling complaints about discrimination against pregnant students and other pregnancy-related issues. Following recent court decision and direction from the U.S. Department of Education, the Title IX Coordinator proposed changes to the policy to comply with changes. 

COM Grading System and Quality Points Policy (Revised)

The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) proposed revisions to the COM Grading system to provide greater clarity. The policy has been updated to provide additional detail on the calculation of semester credit hours for both preclinical and clinical courses and clarifies the credit hour allocation for formalized classroom instruction, laboratory sessions, and clinical clerkships.

CHSU Reporting Policy and Procedures for On-Campus Incidents Accidents and Injuries (Revised)

The previous “CHSU Student Injury On-Campus Reporting Policy” has been revised to include reporting procedures for accidents or injuries sustained by faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Since faculty and staff injuries and students employed by the University may be covered through workers’ compensation, the policy now incorporates references to the workers' compensation policy.

COM Governing Statute 3A College Governance and Roles of the Leadership (Revised)

The COM Dean has updated the former COM governance policy (COM Governing Statute 3) by dividing the Statute into three parts. Governing Statute 3A clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the Dean, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans within the University’s shared governance system.

COM Governing Statute 3B College Governance and Roles of the Faculty (Revised)

The COM Dean has updated the former COM governance policy (COM Governing Statute 3) by dividing it into three parts. Governing Statute 3B defines the roles and responsibilities of faculty within the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and explains how the faculty’s governance fits within the COM administration. It is designed to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in decision-making as part of COM’s shared governance model. The revised policy also provides greater detail on the function of the College of Osteopathic Medicine College Administrative Committee (COM-CAC), Faculty Assembly, and Faculty Council, clarifying their roles in academic and institutional decision-making.

Archiving of COP Policies

The College of Pharmacy graduated its last class of students in May 2024. The accreditor for pharmacy education programs has approved the University’s report on the successful completion of the teach out process. Because the College of Pharmacy is now closed, the University is removing COP-related policies from the website. The policies will be archived so that they can be accessed by COP graduates and University administration as needed and the website will include instructions on how former COP students and other interested parties can access archived policies.

Upcoming Events and Observance Awareness

March: Women's History Month, Greek-American/Hellenic Heritage Month, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, Endometriosis Awareness Month, Bisexual Health Awareness Month

• CHSU Spring Break - Mar 10-14
• Fresno Growing Health Leader Event at CHSU - Mar 12
• Purim - Mar 13-14
• Holi/Hola Mohalla - Mar 14-15
• St. Patrick's Day - Mar 17
• MSBS Multicultural Celebration - Mar 20
• Nowruz/Norooz (Persian New Year) - Mar 20
• World Down Syndrome Day - Mar 21
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Mar 21
• CHSU-COM Diversity Day - Mar 25
• Eid al-Fitr - Mar 30-31
• International Transgender Day of Visibility - Mar 31
• Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Mar 31

Find information on our website about multicultural events and traditions, gender identity, religious and faith-based holidays and traditions, and awareness observances of diverse members of our campus community.

COM Office of Admissions Events

• Loyola Marymount University presentation - Mar 10
• In-person COM Interview Day (invite only) - Mar 17
• Keck Graduate School event - Mar 19
• COM Interview Day (invite only) - Mar 19
• UC Davis Pre-Med Spring Break Trip (Virtual) - Mar 24
• SJV MedBridge - Medical Student for Day - Mar 25
• Financial Aid Presentation - Mar 27

• MSBS Spring Break - Mar 10-14
• MSBS Interview Day - Mar 20
• Multicultural Celebration - March 20
• Focus Group - Mar 26

Health and Wellness

March is National Kidney Month

March is National Kidney Month, a crucial time dedicated to raising awareness about kidney health and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Here are three ways you can improve your kidney health. 

1. Know the risk factors: learning about risk factors is key because early intervention may stop or slow CKD progression. Risk factors include 

a. Diabetes: uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can harm the small vessels of the kidneys, affecting their function. 

b. High blood pressure: constricts & narrows the blood vessels in the kidneys, which reduces blood flow and stops the kidneys from working well. 

c. Family history of kidney disease: increases the risk for kidney disease. 

d. Older age: as we age, our bodies naturally lose kidney function. 

e. Overweight: being overweight increases the risk of diabetes & high blood pressure. 

2. Get moving: exercise improves blood pressure and insulin resistance which would be expected to preserve renal function as well as lower CKD risk.

It can also help to improve many of the health issues that come with CKD such weakness, shortness of breath, and joint pain. Work toward 30 minutes a session. You should build up gradually to prevent any health issues. 

3. Drink water: water helps the kidneys remove waste from the blood in the form of urine. Water also helps keep your blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys and deliver essential nutrients to them. But if you become dehydrated, then it is more difficult for this delivery system to work. 

Column courtesy of Maria Torres, MS, RDN; Culinary Medicine Instructor, Biomedical Education (COM).

The CHSYou Wow Program gives you the opportunity to show your appreciation for employees, students, and colleagues and acknowledge them for their hard work.

Vishal Gupta, Avery Kaplan, Brendan Obrien, and Victoria Parrilli

Thank you for presenting all the valuable tips/advices at the IM Fireside Chat throughout your busy schedules! Thank you for your honesty and genuine advices.

Submitted by Lucia Liu, OMS-II

Nou Henson

I want to WOW Nou Henson. She went above and beyond with book donations for the student ambassadors. She has donated three boxes of books. I know the elementary kids are going to enjoy them. 

Submitted by Nicole Contreras

120 Building

I want to WOW our staff and faculty at 120 who donated books to the student ambassadors at COM. Thank you for taking the time out to look for donations. I know the kids are going to enjoy them. 

Submitted by Nicole Contreras

Jessie Hernandez

I'd like to WOW! Jessie Hernandez, for leading and organizing the Pancake Day event. It was such a great event for the students, and they loved it. Thank you for going out of your way to make this event special for the students.

Submitted by Tom Thao

Tianna Taylor

I'd like to WOW! Tianna Taylor. As one of the newest OSA/Admissions team members, she stepped up to help with every event and activity that both OSA and Admissions put out for the students. Thank you for ensuring all the events' supplies and equipment are ready to go. THANK YOU!

Submitted by Tom Thao

Lisa James

I'd like to WOW! Lisa for her work with the students through the therapy sessions she provided. You made a difference in the student's well-being through your services, Wellness Wednesday activities, and yoga sessions through the CHSU Wellness Committee. Thank you for always being ready to provide a helping hand at all OSA's events on or off campus. I appreciate all you do!

Submitted by Tom Thao

Megan Zaninovich

I'd like to WOW Megan! Since you joined the department, it has created more opportunities for students to get the services they need for their well-being. Thank you for always being ready to take on activities and help when needed, when you are available. 

Submitted by Tom Thao

Catherine Rosales & Rigo Ceja

I'd like to Wow! Cat and Rigo, the Learning Specialists. Since they both started, they have been critical to the OSA team. Helping with all the events and activities, and coordinating their activities to support students learning. Thank you both for always being ready to help with all the OSA programs and events.

Submitted by Tom Thao

Chandler Jameson and Mia Munoz

Congratulations to Chandler and Mia for planning the 8th Annual CHSU Scholarship Gala! All in attendance had a great time learning about CHSU and building relationships between our supporters and our campus community. Thank you for all you do for CHSU and our students!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Mikayla Saelee

Thank you to Mikayla for your initiative and support during the Gala! Mikayla took videos and photos, helped with check-in, auction support, troubleshoot and set up devices, clean up, etc. The auction check out was successful with your help! She also has been flexing her schedule to accommodate events and video shoots and has maintained a high level of productivity and work quality. We appreciate your extra support where ever you were needed. Great job!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Monique Islas

Monique has balanced a variety of simultaneous projects and events with skill and grace! She is proactive and has been flexible with our partners to help us meet our deadlines. She has been providing great support for social media graphics and branding projects. Thank you!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Krystal Mendoza

Krystal has taken her new internship opportunity at CHSU very seriously and has been a great help to our team. She has adjusted her schedule to support events, video shoots, etc. She has completed several analytics reviews and research to help improve our social media presence and effectiveness. We appreciate your help in various areas at the Gala too! Thank you!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Dr. Laura Gutierrez-Rivera and Nicole Njike-Bobga

Thank you to our fabulous Gala speakers, Dr. Laura Gutierrez-Rivera and Nicole Njike-Bobga! You both did a wonderful job preparing in advance and sharing your inspiring personal stories with our partners at the Gala. You both represent the students that CHSU was built to support and we appreciate the sacrifices you have made to care for our local patients! Amazing job!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Jessica McCune

Thank you to Jessica for being a great help at the Gala! You are always willing to lend an extra hand and ensure our guests have a wonderful experience. We appreciate your help with check-in, the auction check-out, and everything in between! Your CHSU pride and spirit shows in all that you do!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Desiree Landano

A huge thank you to Desiree for your detail-oriented help at the Gala! You jumped in to ensure the silent auction sheets had accurate information, and spent significant time ensuring the devices were working and auction items were input for check-out. You were instrumental in successful auction check-out and even sold the last auction piece so we had a 100% sell out! Thank you so much!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Mikaela Garces

Thank you to Mikaela for taking time from your busy schedule to help at the Gala! From soliciting MSBS student ambassadors to help at the event to ensuring the students were trained and supported during the Gala, you are always there to ensure for success! We appreciate your time and talent, especially when it comes to supporting students!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser

Harnoor Bhatti, Krishan Joshi, Ikroop Miglani, Nathan Do, Bryce Deniz, Crystal Hammond, Kuljit Dhami, and Alan Huynh

Thank you to our COM and MSBS student ambassadors for representing CHSU at the Gala! We appreciate you taking your valuable time to become acquainted with our partners and supporters. Your helping hands at the Gala gave our guests a wonderful experience. We were proud to honor you and your fellow students and help build a more robust scholarship fund!

Submitted by Richele Kleiser