CREST Program: Application Essay Mentoring

The CREST Program offers education and mentoring to help HDFCCC staff explore the differences between the roles of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and MD (Career Exploration Track) and to support their application process (Application Track). All HDFCCC staff are eligible to register, although the Application Track requires you are planning on applying with in one year. You must first register for the entire CREST Program here , and then for each individual event you want to attend.

For more information on the CREST tracks and upcoming events, click here. HDFCCC Health Center Staff may use their education hours to attend CREST events. They must be approved in advance by the employee's manager and recorded in MyTime.

Upcoming CREST Program Events:

• Career Panel - MD/PA/NP: October, will repeat next year
• Characteristics of Successful Applicants - 12/8/25, 4pm - 5:30pm, Register
• Finding Research Opportunities While Working at UCSF - TBD
• Nuts & Bolts of the Application Process - 1/28/26, 12-1pm Register
• CREST Speaker Series, Steve Braunstein, MD/PhD Radiation Oncology - 2/26/26, 12-1pm - See below Register
• Application Essay Mentoring - February - April 2026 Register
• Mock Interviews - August 2026

The Essay Mentoring program will provide 1:1 essay mentoring for those completing medical school, PA program, and NP program applications. Participants must be within one year of applying to their respective programs to qualify. Participants will be paired with a current UCSF medical student, PA or nurse practitioner who can provide feedback on application essays. Mentoring will occur between February 16th-May 15th. 

Apply by January 28th.