Naomi Hematillake and Brett Hughes share their individual journeys to enrolling in medical school at California Health Sciences University in Clovis.

They are among more than 500 new and returning medical students to campus this week, university officials said.

“The campus has never been livelier now that we have all four cohorts of medical students at CHSU,” said John Graneto, DO, Dean of the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The incoming class of 2027 is the fourth cohort to date at the college, with 160 new student doctors beginning their first year of medical school.

90% of Students From California

With about 25% of students from the Central Valley and more than 90% from California, the university hopes most of its medical students will complete residencies here and practice locally.

“Our diverse medical students represent the patient populations they will serve, so we are proud that our students collectively speak 40 different languages with approximately one-third who speak Spanish,” said Dr. Graneto.

CHSU requires medical Spanish courses to prepare its future physicians to better serve Spanish-speaking patients.

More than 3,200 candidates applied and about 800 applicants were interviewed for fall 2023 admission to the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Many of the CHSU medical students completed their undergraduate education at institutions such as UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Berkeley, Fresno State, and Stanislaus State.

Class of 2024 Looks Forward to Starting Medical Residencies

Next spring, members of the CHSU Class of 2024 expect to learn where they will be matched for their medical residencies.

“Our inaugural class of students will graduate this May before beginning residencies to make an immediate impact on the health care provider deficit in the Central Valley,” said Dr. Graneto. “I’m excited that starting next year a steady stream of new CHSU-educated physicians will join the community every year.”

(Disclosure: The Assemi family founded Clovis Health Sciences University and GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi is a board trustee.)