Shaping the Future - Insights for Tomorrow's Professional
The 2025 ROAD Conference will take place over two days, March 7 and March 8, 2025. Day one will be dedicated to pre-health educators, while day two will focus on pre-medical students. Please see below for additional details about the agenda for each day.
Conference Location: UCSF Fresno, 155 N. Fresno St., Fresno, CA, 93701
Conference Cost: Free
Click here to View Speaker and Panelist Bios
Pre-Health Educator Day
Target Audience:
- San Joaquin Valley College STEM Counselors/Teachers/Faculty
- High School Health Pathway Teachers
- Physicians
The first day of our annual ROAD Conference is dedicated to pre-health educators, providing valuable insights on guiding students toward a medical career. Gain expert advice and practical tools on topics such as the future of healthcare in the San Joaquin Valley, AI-driven career exploration, and organizations that support students on their medical career journey. This event will be offered in a hybrid format so that you can attend either in-person or virtually.
CLICK FOR EDUCATOR DAY REGISTRATION
EDUCATOR DAY AGENDA
8:30 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 am
Keynote: The Future of Medicine in the San Joaquin Valley
Trinidad Solis, MD, MPH, Deputy Health Officer, Fresno County Department of Public Health
9:30 am
Session I: AI-Driven Career Exploration
Jennifer Mojarro, Director, Career Center, California State University, Fullerton
10:15 am
10:35 am
Break
Session II: Building Community: Eight Opportunities for Your Students
- AAMC FAP: Raman Bains
- Central California Blood Center: Alis Mejia, Assistant Manager of Donor Education and Outreach
- Fresno County Health Youth Corps: Alma McKenry, M.Ed., BSN, RN, Sr. Director of Health Services, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
- Fresno Economics Opportunity Commission-Health Services: Julio Romero, MPH, Assistant Director
- Health Career Connection: Cassandra Chavez, MSW, Senior Program Manager
- MiMentor: Ashley Vargas, Vice President of Outreach and Ismael Rosales, Central California Internal President
- Poverello House: Mary Sosa, Community Engagement Coordinator
- UCSF Fresno Mobile Health and Learning (HeaL): Mackenzie Saephanh, Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
11:20 am
Session III: Panel: What I Wish My Pre-Medical Advisor Knew
- Ajmeet Pama-Ghuman, MS-I
- Alyssa Rivera, MS-4
- Brian Tran, MS-III
- Mariela Lozano Bustos
- Monica Le, BS, OMS-III
12:00 pm
Lunch
Networking Lunch
Educator Resource Fair (Library)
- Army Healthcare Recruiting
- Central California Blood Center
- Fresno County Health Youth Corps
- Fresno Economics Opportunity Commission-Health Services
- MiMentor
- Poverello house
- UCSF Fresno Mobile HEAL
1:00pm
Closing Session & Raffle
Pre-Medical Student Day
Target Audience:
- CMSP SJV-MedBridge Students
- Pre-Med Transfer Students
- UCSF Fresno Partner High School Students - by invitation only
The second day of our annual ROAD Conference is designed to support pre-medical students on their path to becoming medical professionals. Students will have the opportunity to network with peers, explore diverse pathways to medical school, learn from a live panel of current medical professionals, and wrap up the day with an interactive clinical experience.
This conference is currently at capacity and is accepting waitlist registrations only.CLICK to join STUDENT DAY waitlist Registration*
*Join the ROAD Conference waitlist to be notified when tickets become available. You will receive an email ONLY if a spot becomes available. No confirmation email of your addition to the waitlist will be sent. This does not guarantee your attendance at the 2025 ROAD Conference.
STUDENT DAY AGENDA
8:30 am
Registration and Breakfast
(suggested arrival at 8:15 am)
9:00 am
Opening Remarks
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, MD, District 31
9:05 am
Keynote: Trajectory Up A Central Valley Physician’s Journey
Michael Galvez, MD, FACEP, Director, Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity, Valley Children's Healthcare
9:30 am
Session I: Telling Your Story / Medical School Application
- Alan Pham, MS-4
- Hector Acosta, MS-4
- Kenneth Fox, MS-4
10:20 am
10:35 am
Break - Transition Period
Breakout Sessions:
Session 2A: Navigating Your Path: Traditional vs. Nontraditional Routes in Higher Education (Audience: College Students)
- Janet Ibarra, Counselor, Merced College
- Larry Riley, PhD, Professor, Biology, Fresno State
- Noreen Balos, Admissions Advisor, SJV PRIME+ BS/MD Pathway, UC Merced
Session 2B: Navigating CA Public Higher Education - UC/CSU/Community College (Audience: High School Students)
- Kia Tan, M.Ed, Director of College Relations & Outreach, Reedley College
11:20 am
11:25 am
Break - Transition Period
Session III: Medical Student Panel with Q&A
- Mandeep Kaur, UCSF Fresno
- Monica Le, BS, California Health Sciences University
- Gabriela Seto California Health Sciences University
- Shizra Sipra, UCSF Fresno
- Ajmeet Pama-Ghuman, UCSF SJV PRIME
- Brian Tran, California Health Sciences University
12:15 pm
Lunch
Networking
Student Resource Fair
- Community Based Organizations (Atrium)
- AmeriCorps
- Army Health Care Recruiting
- Beautify Fresno
- Central California Blood Center
- Central Valley Medical Association Board
- Fresno Economics Opportunity Commission-Health Services
- Health Career Connection (Room 136)
- Marjaree Mason Center
- MiMentor (Room 136)
- Poverello House
- United Farmworkers Foundation
- UCSF Fresno Mobile Health and Learning (HeaL) (Room 136)
- UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career Pathways (Room 136)
- Colleges and Universities (Library)
- California Health Sciences University
- Clovis Community College
- Fresno City College
- Fresno State Admissions
- Fresno State CASA
- Reedley College
- UC Merced Extension
1:00 pm
Interactive Clinical Simulation Labs
- Splinting in the Wilderness
- Ropes/Knots
- Backboard Challenge
- Stop the Bleed
- CPR with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
- Vimedix Ultrasound Simulator
- Birthing Simulation
- Suture Blocks
2:00 pm
Closing Session & Raffle
The ROAD Conference is generously funded by Cal Viva Health, the California Medicine Scholars Program, and the Fresno-Madera K16 Collaborative.