Antonio Toribio, M.D., was three years old when his family moved from Mexico to Fresno, where they worked as farm laborers. By high school, he knew he wanted to be a physician and practice in Fresno, where doctors are in short supply. He was elated when he matched with his first-choice residency program — the Department of Medicine at UCSF Fresno.
“I always wanted to come back home, and I wanted to get great medical training. By doing my residency at UCSF Fresno, I was able to do both,” he said. “Here in Fresno, we see vast pathologies — from uncommon presentations of common illnesses to advanced-stage diseases. That exposure made me the physician I am today.”
This year, UCSF Fresno celebrates 50 years of bringing critical health care to the San Joaquin Valley and training the next generation of physicians to serve the region and state. Toribio embodies UCSF Fresno’s mission to attract, train and retain physicians — especially those from the region — who are dedicated to high-quality, accessible care.
Legacy of impact
Founded in 1975 with support from the California Legislature and Veterans Administration (VA), UCSF Fresno was established to address the region’s severe physician shortage. Today, it is the largest academic physician training program between Sacramento and Los Angeles.
Each year, UCSF Fresno provides care for more than 550,000 patient visits, and cares for 25,000 veterans, through hospitals, clinics, private practices and the VA. Its primary clinical affiliate, Community Regional Medical Center, operates one of California’s busiest emergency departments and the region’s only Level 1 trauma and burn center.
Thanks to its strong regional ties, UCSF Fresno alumni and faculty lead research and clinical trials tailored to Valley health issues, securing $92 million in funding since 2013. They oversee clinics and provide specialty care for conditions such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, dementia and Alzheimer’s, all while ensuring culturally competent care for the Valley’s diverse population.
“UCSF Fresno brings the full impact of the UCSF School of Medicine to the Central Valley, developing homegrown health care talent that transforms lives,” said Talmadge E. King, Jr., M.D., dean of UCSF School of Medicine. “This region continues to face a critical physician shortage, and UCSF Fresno plays a leading role in addressing that need. We take pride in training exceptional physicians; many choose to stay and build their careers in the community they call home.”
Local physicians for local patients
The San Joaquin Valley has the second lowest number of primary care physicians and specialists in the state, with 22 percent fewer primary care physicians than the state average, according to the California HealthCare Foundation. To close this gap, UCSF Fresno has created multiple pathways to recruit, train and retain doctors in the region. Since 2017, 40 percent of UCSF Fresno residency graduates have stayed in the Central Valley, and 70 percent have remained in California.
A physician’s choice of where to practice is strongly influenced by where they grow up and train,” said Stacy Sawtelle Vohra, MD, assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education at UCSF Fresno. “Before, aspiring doctors had to leave the Valley for education and training. Now, we offer a continuous path to becoming a physician – from high school mentoring programs to undergraduate and medical school partnerships with UC Merced and UCSF, to our robust residency and fellowship programs.”
Since 2011, UCSF Fresno has launched key initiatives to cultivate local medical talent, including:
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San Joaquin Valley PRIME (SJV PRIME): A specialized track at UCSF School of Medicine for students committed to serving the Valley.
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SJV PRIME+: An eight-year BS-to-MD pathway in partnership with UC Merced, designed to engage future physicians early in their education.
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UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy and Junior Doctors Academy: Programs exposing middle and high school students to health care careers through mentorship and hands-on.
‘I’ve stayed in Fresno for my career because it’s home’
Toribio’s journey reflects the impact of UCSF Fresno’s mission. Inspired by the physician shortage he read about in high school, he pursued medical school with a singular goal — to serve Fresno.
Following residency, he joined UCSF Fresno as an associate clinical professor of medicine and hospitalist at Community Regional Medical Center and the VA hospital in Fresno.
His training, he said, was comprehensive and transformative — from patient care to research, journal clubs, and case presentations. Now, he’s teaching the next generation of internal medicine residents, passing on the skills and knowledge that shaped his career.
Beyond his clinical and academic roles, Toribio also mentors high school students through UCSF Fresno’s Doctors Academy, recognizing the value of early exposure to medicine.
“The more you immerse yourself in medicine early on, the more you can see yourself in it,” he said. “If sharing my story helps a high schooler picture their future in medicine, that might inspire them to become a physician here in the Central Valley.”
Ultimately, his decision to stay in Fresno was personal.
“I stayed because it’s home,” he said. “These are my people, my community – they saw me grow up. That connection matters. Whether I’m speaking English or Spanish, my patients feel how deeply I care. It’s not that other physicians aren’t invested, but I have an added layer of connection because I was raised here.”
Sawtelle Vohra said, “We’re building a pipeline of physicians who train here, stay here and serve their community. The future is bright in Fresno.”
