Dear Friends,

As we bid farewell to the long, sun-soaked days of summer, we're thrilled to fall back into the exciting rhythm of a new academic year. We hope everyone had the chance to step away and recharge, bringing fresh energy and renewed focus as we tackle the milestones ahead—much like faithful football fans are gearing up for this upcoming NFL season!

We are excited to share that we have officially welcomed both the SJV PRIME Class of 2028 medical students and our second SJV PRIME+ baccalaureate cohort! These stellar students have started their respective programs this past month, marking the start of their journeys to becoming the next generation of physicians who will serve and transform the health of the San Joaquin Valley. 

The SJV PRIME+ program members have wasted no time this past month. The outreach team has been busy updating their web pages and recruitment materials, signaling the launch of the AY24-25 outreach cycle! Their hard work and dedication are already paving the way for another successful year of engagement and impact. Additionally, the newly hired SJV PRIME+ F1 Faculty team participated in UCSF's Launch Week in San Francisco, building relationships with colleagues and immersing themselves in UCSF's Bridges Curriculum.

Every member of our community is key to driving our mission forward, and we couldn't have reached these milestones without the dedication of our leadership, faculty, staff, and students. We're ready to kick off this new academic year with confidence, knowing the SJV PRIME+ team always scores big! 

Cheers,

Peter

M.M. Silva Building circa 1900s

New Member Spotlight

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our newly appointed SJV PRIME+ Foundations 1 (F1) Faculty and Curriculum Lead!

Julia Alvarez, PhD



Campus: UC Merced

Program Role: SJV PRIME+ F1 Faculty

Bio: Dr. Julia Alvarez is a Central Valley native, born and raised in Merced. After initially pursuing a business degree to support her baking hobby, she was captivated by an intro to biology course. In biology she found excitement, curiosity, and many questions she desired answers to. Julia is driven by her own experiences, navigating college as a first-generation student and being impacted by inclusive and curiosity-driven learning environments. As she embarks on this new role, Julia hopes to inspire and prepare the next generation of doctors that will go on to make lasting changes in the San Joaquin Valley.

In her graduate work she researched the host immune response to infections of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in Dr. Kirk Jensen’s lab. Her work identified the two glycosyltransferases that add sugar modifications to the parasite’s glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). Additionally, she found that the loss of the parasite’s GPI sidechain resulted in increased pathogenicity. While a graduate student she was a teaching assistant for many baccalaureate biology courses and served as an instructor for Molecular Immunology. 

Fun Fact: Julia is a passionate baker who loves creating her own recipes, despite the challenge of balancing it with being a mom of two. Her dedication paid off in 2022 when her recipe, “Nannie’s Lemon Meringue Pie” (a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother), earned her a spot as a finalist in the Pinterest/Food52 Golden Recipe contest!

Marcos Garcia-Ojeda, PhD



Campus: UC Merced

Program Role: SJV PRIME+ F1 Faculty

Bio: Dr. Marcos Garcia-Ojeda has been at UC Merced since 2006, when he was hired as founding faculty in the Biology Program. In this role, he has developed and implemented novel and effective teaching methodologies designed to improve student compression and mastery of class material. Marcos has created student-centered learning activities that promote critical thinking, problem solving, and group work. As a course instructor, Marcos is passionate about promoting student engagement through hands on activities that enhance group work and effectively deliver course content in a comprehensive manner. By combining innovation and technology in the classroom, Marcos has witnessed an increase in student performance and understanding of the material.

Additionally, Marcos’ commitment to equity, justice, and inclusive excellence (EJIE) is exemplified by his work as the Co-Principal Investigator on UC Merced's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence Grant, fomenting institutional change in the School of Natural Sciences, as well as co-developing the Graduate Engineering Equity Committee’s EJIE working group. Marcos earned a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University in 2022, giving him the tools to address institutional challenges related to EJIE.

Matthew Warren, PhD



Campus: UC Merced

Program Role: SJV PRIME+ F1 Faculty

Bio: Dr. Matthew Warren, originally from Lemoore, CA, is dedicated to supporting students in realizing their full potential and achieving success. His academic journey began at West Hills College Lemoore with an Associate of Science in Biology and an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts (Math & Sciences), followed by a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from UC Davis. He continued his education with a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where his research focused on maternal dietary protein's impact on milk and fecal microbiota in rats. Pursuing a PhD in Nutrition at North Carolina State University, he studied the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on vitamin D metabolism in chickens, which deepened his interest in biomedical research. After completing his PhD in 2020, he undertook a postdoctoral position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, investigating host genetics and dietary interactions on the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid homeostasis. Returning to California after a decade, he is enthusiastic to inspire students to recognize and reach their true potential.

Fun Fact: Matthew’s most memorable research experience involved milking female rats to analyze their composition and the associated microbiota, a project that contributed to his achievement of becoming the first person in his family to earn a doctorate degree.

Shelby Fallas



Campus: UC Merced

Program/Campus Role: SJV PRIME+ Curriculum Lead

Bio: Shelby Fallas graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master’s Degree in Administrative Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Her career in higher education spans various roles, including her time as the Athletic Academic Mentor at the University of Oklahoma, Assistant Director of Outreach at Fresno Pacific University, and most recently, as the AHEC (Area Health Education Center) Scholars Program Coordinator and Family Medicine Medical Student Coordinator at UCSF Fresno. During her tenure at UCSF Fresno, Shelby developed a student symposium, researched the interactivity of multidisciplinary health professions in an online asynchronous learning environment, and led efforts in curricular improvements and redesign.

Fun Fact: Shelby is a San Joaquin Valley native but spent four years in Oklahoma, where she adopted her two dogs, Blu and Doc. While living in Oklahoma, Shelby also completed the Disney College Program at Disney World for a semester in 2016. Following these exciting life adventures, Shelby has been back in the Valley for 5 years and is excited to be home.

UCSF Fresno Hosts Annual

 Doctors Academy Summer Health Career Mentorship Program

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Katherine Flores, the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy (DA) Program has seen 1,146 students complete the high school pathway program, many of whom are now pursuing advanced degrees or working as health professionals. This summer, 48 rising seniors from Fresno’s Caruthers and Sunnyside high schools participated in the UCSF Fresno DA Summer Health Career Mentorship Program. Over the span of 5 weeks, students had the opportunity to shadow UCSF School of Medicine faculty members, gaining insights and inspiration for their future careers. This initiative aims to support aspiring SJV high school students to become healthcare professionals who will return to the region to offer culturally competent care. Students from the program had the chance to accompany UCSF Fresno medical residents on rounds at Community Regional Medical Center and other health institutions, such as Adventist Health and Valley Children’s Healthcare. The program, managed by the UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways, also featured several workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on skills development throughout its duration.

Please join us in celebrating the dedication and achievements of these aspiring healthcare professionals as they embark on their promising journeys!

UCSF's Summer Research Program Inspires Future Scientists

While many high school students spend their summers hanging out with friends or working part-time jobs, 28 exceptional students from the San Francisco Unified School District spent theirs diving into biomedical research through the UCSF Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) High School Intern Program. Founded by biochemist Bruce Alberts in 1987, the SEP program supports students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science from across the city of San Francisco. Selection for the program takes into account racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors, and nearly 550 students have benefited since its start. Notably, four former interns are now studying at UCSF, with one serving as a mentor for the program.

Over the course of this eight-week program, interns explored a wide range of research topics —from heat stress to neuronal behavior in songbirds — showcasing their findings at a celebratory poster session at UCSF Mission Bay. This opportunity provided students with exposure to the clinical research environment, networking opportunities, and some have even co-authored published research. Please join us in congratulating these talented young scientists on their impressive achievements and bright futures!

Goats Take the Lead: UC Merced's Unique Approach to Campus Grazing

Cows are a common sight at UC Merced, grazing on the expansive 6,500-acre Merced Vernal Pools & Grassland Reserve, as well as the 40-acre Experimental Smart Farm. The campus even hosts an annual student-run event named "Cowtopia" in their honor. However, cattle are limited in their reach, leading the university to enlist goats for more challenging areas. This summer marks the second consecutive year that UC Merced has partnered with Star Creek, led by third-generation California rancher Andree Soares, to deploy goats for grazing on the campus's northeast side.

The herd, consisting of 660 goats — all does and kids — have been brought in to graze the campus edges using temporary, solar-powered electric netted fences. Goats offer a distinct advantage over cattle as they can consume invasive yellow star thistle, a plant that becomes unpalatable to cattle as it matures. This method is not only environmentally friendly and cost-effective but also incredibly efficient. According to Star Creek, a herd of 400 goats can clear up to 2 acres of land, daily, while simultaneously enhancing soil quality.

Kudos to UC Merced and Star Creek for their forward-thinking collaboration in sustainable campus maintenance — you both are the real GOAT(s)*!

*GOAT: Greatest of All Time

SJV PRIME Medical Student Highlight

SJV PRIME Welcomes Class of 2028:

A Week of Insight, Networking, and Exploration

The SJV PRIME Program proudly welcomed its new Class of 2028 during the ARISE (Advance Regional Information: Summer Education for SJV PRIME) Intro Week! Over the course of the week, the 12 incoming students had the chance to build connections with their new cohort, as well as with current students, faculty, and staff of the SJV PRIME program.

The week kicked off with an insightful discussion led by Dr. Trinidad Solis, Deputy Health Officer at the Fresno County Department of Public Health. Dr. Solis provided an overview of Fresno’s public health landscape and various county health initiatives. Additionally, SJV PRIME alumni participated in a panel where they shared their experiences and explained how the program has prepared them for leadership roles as physicians in the San Joaquin Valley.

The week concluded with a visit to UC Merced, where students met with Senator Caballero to discuss the importance of health advocacy, engaged with local promotoras to learn about community health efforts, and toured the Golden Valley Health Center.

Please join us in welcoming these new students to the SJV PRIME family, as we look forward to all their success that is to come in this program and beyond. 

Celebrating New Beginnings:

SJV PRIME+ Students Embrace Tradition and Community

This past month, the newly admitted SJV PRIME+ cohort had the opportunity to participate in the annual Scholars Bridge Crossing. This campus tradition is quite the regal event! Campus leadership, including Chancellor Juan Sanchez Muñoz, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost Betsy Dumont, and various school deans, come together to lead incoming students across Scholars Bridge and through the New Beginnings Statue to mark the beginning of their academic journey at UC Merced.

Following this celebratory event, the students took part in the PAWrade, a parade featuring decorated carts representing various university clubs and departments. The Department of Medical Education (DOME) showed their support by showcasing the newly established campus department, and of course, all the fabulous SJV PRIME+ staff and students! This event provided the SJV PRIME+ UC Merced Class of 2028 with an opportunity to bond with other incoming first-year students, connect with one another, and engage with the DOME team.

Cheers to a year of growth, discovery, and success!