California Health Sciences University

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit university located in Clovis, in the U.S. state of California . Founded in 2012, the school operates three academic programs, two of which offer doctoral degrees in pharmacy and osteopathic medicine, and the third offers a masters degree in science. Graduates of the College of Pharmacy (COP) will receive the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree, graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and graduates of the College of Biosciences and Health Professions (CBHP) will receive the Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is fully pre-accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).^[4] The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission and has approval to operate from the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

History

The university was founded in 2012 by the Assemi family.^[5][6] The College of Pharmacy opened in 2014.^[2] In 2020, the College of Osteopathic Medicine opened.

The Fresno area was the largest city in the United States without a medical school until the opening of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.^[7] UCSF Fresno, a regional campus of the UCSF School of Medicine and currently the largest graduate medical education training program in CA's Central Valley (excluding Sacramento), was established in 1975 to address the severe shortage of physicians in California's San Joaquin Valley. The program, however, never culminated into an independent medical school. The nearest medical schools are the UC Davis School of Medical 180 miles to the north in Sacramento, CA , and Stanford University School of Medicine 180 miles to the west in Stanford, CA in the San Francisco Bay Area. The next nearest medical school is the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, 231 miles south in Pasadena, CA.

Construction for the osteopathic medical school broke ground in 2018 and opened for instruction in the fall of 2020.^[8] The mission of CHSU is to train highly qualified healthcare professionals and inspire them to serve the local and extended Clovis/Fresno areas or other similarly underserved areas. The university, however, generated controversy regarding its for-profit status and high tuition costs.^[9]

With the presence of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, CA and Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, CA, CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine became the third osteopathic medical school in CA.

Academics

The University consists of three Colleges, the College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), the College of Pharmacy (CHSU-COP), and the College of Biosciences and Health Professions (CHSU-CBHP). The University itself is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission and has approval to operate from the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).^[10] As of Jan 2024, students currently enrolled in the CHSU-COP and CHSU-CBHP programs are eligible to apply for federal student loans including the Direct Unsubsidized Loan and the Graduate PLUS Loan. Students in the DO program, however, do not quality but may apply for private loans as needed.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a 4-year program that confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. In December 2018, the College of Osteopathic Medicine received approval to recruit students and to begin receiving applications by May 2019.^[11] The first class of osteopathic medical students began courses in the fall of 2020.^[12] The American Osteopathic Association currently lists the College as having pre-accreditation status.^[13] According to records, the College is on track to receive full accreditation status upon the graduation of it's inaugural class of medical students in Spring 2024. In place of a cadaver lab, the College utilizes HoloLens technology with 3D anatomical software models for instruction of anatomy for first and second year students. For third and fourth year students, clerkships are offered in CA, primarily in the Clovis/Fresno area with a few offered in the areas surrounding LA, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, and Bakersfield. Students can also participate in clerkships at additional locations with prior arrangements with the College. To encourage graduates to remain in the local area, the local medical community has worked with the medical board to approve additional ACGME accredited residency programs in the Clovis/Fresno area since the opening of the College. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists the College of Osteopathic Medicine as a US medical school along with other accredited US M.D. and D.O. programs.

The College of Pharmacy offers a 4-year program that confers the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree. The 4-year pharmacy program pre-accreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) was withdrawn in 2020 for failure to meet 3 of 25 accreditation standards.^[14] CHSU restarted the ACPE accreditation application process for a new, 3-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2021, but precandidate status for the new program was denied in 2022 with the option to appeal.^[15] CHSU chose not to pursue an appeal.^[16] The current 4-year program, however, remains open with ACPE candidate status through 2024. During this open phase, current students will be able to complete their education and sit for all state and/or national licensing exams for full licensure. They also remain eligible to apply for and pursue accredited pharmacy residencies. Applications for new students, however, are no longer being accepted for the pharmacy program.

The College of Biosciences and Health Professions offers two programs, the one-year non-Thesis track and a two-year Thesis track, both conferring a Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree. Both programs help students strengthen their academic credentials and critical thinking skills before pursuing a healthcare profession career. The more comprehensive 2-year Thesis track program further prepares students for careers in education, research, pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and various government agencies. CHSU students in the MSBS Program who graduate and meet GPA, MCAT, and other specified requirements are guaranteed an interview with the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. Admission cannot be guaranteed, however. The University's accreditation applies to the accreditation of the College of Biosciences and Health Professions as well.

As of Jan 2024, CHSU is only accepting applications for two programs, the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program and the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program.

Campus

The California Health Sciences University campus consists of two sites, both located in Clovis, CA; one site at 120 N Clovis Ave and the second at 2500 Alluvial Ave.

The campus at 120 N Clovis Ave consists of a 30,000 sq-foot building housing the College of Pharmacy and the College of Biosciences and Health Professions. The facility also features large classrooms for lectures, a student lounge, student study rooms, and faculty and administrative offices.

The campus at 2500 Alluvial Ave consists of a 90,000 sq-foot three-story building, newly constructed in 2020, housing the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Simulation Center. The facility opened for instruction for its inaugural class of medical students in the fall of 2020 and incorporates innovative technology throughout. The facility features large classrooms, an Osteopathic Skills lab, a library, private and collaborative study spaces, a spacious student lounge with a Teaching Kitchen, and a Simulation Center.

The Simulation Center includes an inpatient area resembling a hospital environment and an outpatient area similar to a clinic or doctor’s office. The innovative Simulation Center was planned to maximize interactive learning and utilizes high tech medical manikins for simulating various medical conditions to facilitate student learning. The Center is utilized by other CHSU colleges for instruction as well.

CHSU’s campus at 2500 Alluvial Ave consists of 110-acres with plans to eventually combine both sites into a single campus on Alluvial.

Student life

The College of Osteopathic Medicine hosts an annual Research Day event, providing a great opportunity for medical professionals, faculty, residents, and medical students to showcase their research and scholarly activities. Throughout the year, students also have opportunities to participate in several local community outreach and mentorship programs. These events may include school fairs and leading hands-on educational workshops. Many CHSU clubs and organizations promote community involvement and actively coordinate educational and health-based outreach programs targeting local students from kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) to encourage personal health and to inspire a passion for healthcare.

Recent outreach programs:

• Career Fair at The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)
• Intro to Med School and Q&A at Buchanan High School
• Pulmonology Skills Lab at Caruthers High School
• Skills Labs & Workshops at Buchanan High School
• Skills Labs & Workshops at Madera High School
• UCSF Fresno Doctor’s Academy HEaL Conference 2023 at Caruthers High School
• Virtual Intro to Med School and Q&A

The following clubs and organizations are available for California Health Sciences University students to participate in. Students may also form clubs or organizations through an application process with the Student Affairs Office.

The College of Pharmacy:

• Chapter of a professional fraternity, Phi Delta Chi.
• Student Senate
• American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA)
• California Pharmacist Association (CPhA)
• California Society of Health System Pharmacists (CSHP)
• Kappa Psi
• Phi Delta Chi
• Student National Pharmaceutical Association

The College of Osteopathic Medicine:

• COM Student Government Association (COM SGA)
• Advanced Human Anatomy Club (AHAC)
• American Colleges of Osteopathic Surgeons-Medical Student Session (ACOS-MSS)
• American Medical Association (AMA-MSS)
• American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
• American Society of Anesthesiologists – CHSU Student Chapter
• Armenian Student Association at CHSU
• Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
• Association of Women Surgeons
• Cardiovascular Interest Group
• Christian Medical Dental Association
• Dermatology Interest Group
• DO Care Club
• Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG)
• Internal Medicine Interest Group
• Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
• Lavender Alliance (LA)
• Muslim Student Association
• OB/GYN Interest Group
• Oncology Interest Group
• Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Interest Group
• Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California – CHSU Chapter
• Pediatric Interest Group
• Psychiatric Interest Group
• Radiology Student Club
• Sigma Sigma Phi Chapter at CHSU
• Simulation Club
• Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO)
• Student Art Club (Art-ery)
• Student Association of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP)
• Student Chapter of the Military Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS)
• Student Interest Group in Neurology
• Student Journal Club
• Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
• The Vocal Chords
• Valley Mentors
• Valley Reach Club
• Wellness and Wilderness Medicine Club
• White Coats for Black Lives Student Chapter

See also

• List of medical schools in the United States

References

External links

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