Freshman Transition Program Your DA Journey:�Steps to Academic Success in DA

Aspiring Scholar Workshop

Program Mission

Our mission is to develop individuals to become health care professionals who will ultimately return to the San Joaquin Valley and to provide culturally competent health care services to the medically underserved

Welcome to Your DA Journey!

• Being part of DA allows you to explore various health careers, expand your knowledge about cultural competencies, and learn about the college and scholarship process
• DA provides support and structure to help you excel
• Students who complete the DA program leave the program better prepared for college and more aware of health issues within their community
• Involvement = Success
• If you don’t participate in events, ask questions, engage guest speakers, and get involved in volunteer work, then your experience will be limited. Only you can decide what your experience will be!

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Doctors Academy Staff

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8/7/2019

Caruthers High School Staff​

• Principal​: Barry Watts
• DA Counselor​:
• Current DA Teachers:​
• Mr. Joel Torres
• Mr. Cade Wright
• Mr. David Lidbeck
• Mr. Jeff Morrow

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UCSF Fresno Staff​

• Katherine A. Flores, MD, Founder

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Doctors Academy Handbook

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Please review for current program policies and information. The most recent version can be found at

https://doctorsacademy.ucsf.edu/resources

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Program Expectations

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• Student Participation
• Attend all DA events including, but not limited to:
• Study trips to universities & medical facilities
• Student and parent conferences & workshops
• Guest speaker workshops
• DA Curriculum
• College Exam Prep (offered by school site)
• Spring Research Program & Senior Summer Mentorship (MANDATORY) - 5 weeks
• Community Service Requirement (20 hrs/year)
• Parent Participation
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout all 4 years of the program

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DA Academic Requirements:

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• Students will be identified as needing INTERVENTION PLAN if they:
• Fall below a 3.0 GPA as reported by their school site
• Receive below a grade of C in an A-G required course
• Another infraction as outlined in the Parent/Student Handbook
• After 2 separate terms (official grading periods) below 3.0 GPA, students are up for dismissal 

Academic Support Services

• If at any time you are struggling, please ask your DA teacher, counselor or coordinator for help:
• The dumbest question is the one not asked
• You are not alone and there is help, you just need to ask

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• Support Roles and Contact information for support:
• Administration:
• Counselor: 9th Grade DA Counselor
• Teacher:

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4 - Year Plan

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• Outline of courses and opportunities for DA students. Most current version can be found at https://doctorsacademy.ucsf.edu/resources
• DA students are required to take AT LEAST 1 Advanced Placement (AP) course per year, starting their 10^th grade year.
• Students enrolled in AP courses will get the opportunity to take the AP exam in May to gain transferable college credits (dependent on the university)
• DA Program Curriculum
• Four main components: Aspiring Scholar Workshops, Health Professions Workshops, Medical Topics & Cultural Competency
• DA Staff continues to track students' post-high school
• DA support does not end when you complete high school!

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Opportunities and Resources Provided

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Academic Preparation & Intervention Program

• Study skills, time management, leadership and communication skills, one-on-one academic counseling, college exam preparation
• Students falling below a 3.0 GPA in any grading period will work with DA Coordinator and DA Counselor to improve grades

College Awareness

• Exposure to university systems and connections to admission staff
• Identifying the best college for you
• Review of application process & guidance
• Personal statement assistance
• Scholarship assistance and resources

Student & Parent Workshops

• Health Education & Leadership (HEaL) Conference
• Tutoring and Networking Opportunities

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Opportunities and Resources Provided

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Social and Personal Development

• Opportunity to build friendships with other students interested in medicine/health
• Summer Programs

Career Awareness

• Health Professional Guest Speaker Workshops
• Lecture, Roundtable, Hands-on Activities, etc.
• Site Visits*
• Students visit local clinics or hospitals (Kaiser, CRMC, United Health Centers, etc. when available)
• Spring Research Program & Senior Summer Clinical Internship
• Required for all students to continue in DA
• Volunteer opportunities with local organizations
• Required for all students to continue in DA
• Presidential Service Award

Merit Awards - offered senior year by UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF School of Dentistry

Active Alumni program after graduation

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What do you consider success?

• Write/share out a word or a phrase on what you consider success to be. Examples can include these types of successes:

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• Personal
• Financial
• Educational
• Other

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What do you consider academic success?

• Write or share out a phrase about what you think academic success looks like?

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Steps to Academic Success in DA

1. Know what is expected of you
2. Learn strong organizational skills
3. Aim high to achieve success
4. Learn to balance school and outside responsibilities
5. Get support
6. Take care of yourself (self-care is vital for success)

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Know what is expected of you:

• Attend class
• Attend all DA related events
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Complete all documents and return before deadline
• Review your handbook and KNOW program expectations
• Student agreements signed by student and parents
• Link to Handbook: https://doctorsacademy.ucsf.edu/resources

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How to remain in good standing in DA

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Step 1:

�Learn strong organization skills

• Use a student planner
• Keep binders and folders organized with only needed materials
• It is easy to lose a paper when you have 6 months worth of assignments in there
• Have a dedicated workspace at home
• Designate an area that is clean and will allow you to sit down and complete your work
• If you don’t have the space, try to find alternatives
• Public or school library
• After school program space

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Step 2:

Aim high to achieve success:

• Show up ready to work
• Attend school every day and be on time
• It is your responsibility to follow up with your teacher on missed work
• Learn how to take good notes
• Cornell Notes, Harvard Notes
• Review your notes every evening and ask questions the next day if it is still unclear
• Form your own study groups or attend study groups when offered
• Limit distractions at school and home

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Step 3:

Learn to balance school and outside responsibilities

• It is important to be involved and well-rounded
• However, becoming too heavily involved in activities you may face difficulties in balancing schoolwork and outside responsibilities
• Create a schedule and stick to it
• There are many time management tools online to help you
• Learn to make priorities
• Going out with friends versus finishing up an assignment worth 20% of your grade

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Step 4:

Get Support:

• Seek advice from your parents or close friends when you are struggling
• Sometimes telling someone about your struggles makes it easier to face
• Asking for academic help is very difficult for many students due to:
• Feeling embarrassed
• Fear of feeling inadequate
• Not sure how to ask for help
• Talk to your teachers regularly, they all want you to succeed
• If you are still struggling, you should seek advice/help from your school counselor

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Step 5:

Take care of yourself:

• Self-care is vital to your success and your health
• Get enough hours of sleep every night
• Staying up until 12 pm every night playing video games or watching movies might not be the best idea
• Make the time to go outside or be active
• Make healthy choices and stay hydrated
• Stay positive
• Sometimes having too much homework, too many chores and little time may be stressful but always remember your end goals
• Stress is temporary

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Step 6:

Distribute DA Shirts

�Review DA Uniform�Clean DA shirt�Khakis/Black Slacks (no jeans or shorts)

No Rips or holes on pants (NO EXCEPTIONS)�Closed-Toe Shoes�You are representing your school site & UCSF!

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