Start Strong: UCSF MS4s on Making the Most of Medical School

Hometown: Concord, CA

UCSF Program: PRIME-US

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Kevin's Noodle House has delicious pho for foggy San Francisco days.

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? Little Sweet, it's the best boba in the Sunset.

What is your favorite spot to relax or study on campus? The Medical Student Center is cozy and friendly.

What is a must-do activity in the Bay Area or Central Valley? Hike Half Dome or visit Yosemite!

What experience surprised you the most? The Clinical Microsystems Clerkship: We really bonded and became future physicians together.

What is your favorite way to unwind or have fun outside of medicine? Running through Golden Gate Park.

What do you wish you'd known when starting at UCSF? You'll have time for what brings you joy.

Hometown: San Mateo, CA

UCSF Program: MD

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Perilla in the Inner Sunset for garlic noodles with grilled chicken and imperial rolls. Or the UCSF Moffitt Cafe for the hash browns and longganisa on Fridays!

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? Home Coffee in the Outer Sunset.

What is your favorite spot to relax or study on campus? The Medical Student Center is cozy and friendly.

What is a must-do activity in the Bay Area? Walk along San Francisco's Lands End trail.

What experience surprised you the most? Neuroanatomy lab. We know that the brain is responsible for so much, but there was something both special and surprising about tangibly seeing every structure that is responsible for controlling our movement, thoughts, emotions, speech, etc. 

What do you wish you'd known when starting at UCSF? How much your career goals or aspirations may shift throughout medical school (and that is completely ok!). Medical school is a journey of self-discovery and professional development, but the people at UCSF are committed to supporting you as you figure it out!

Hometown: Orange County, CA

UCSF Program: MD, and I also did an extramural PhD in the middle!

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Banh Mi Crunch on Irving.

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? The Coffee Movement on Balboa. It's a short car ride or a long walk.

What is a must-do activity in the Bay Area? Mori Point, or if you're willing to travel further, Carmel-by-the-Sea!

What experience surprised you the most? Pediatric genetics, which I discovered as an elective sub-internship during my fourth year. There are extended patient encounters, and it’s an interesting opportunity to think about rare diseases through a molecular lens.

What is your favorite way to unwind or have fun outside of medicine? Get out in nature!

What do you wish you'd known when starting at UCSF? There are so many ways to engage with the Bridges Curriculum to suit your interests and style. UCSF does a great job offering versatility in your education.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

UCSF Program: MD

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Marnee Thai for dinner, Arizmendi Bakery for pizza lunch!

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? The Beanery (two locations near Parnassus) has the best-tasting beans, Caffe Central (in the UCSF Kalmanovitz Library) has the kindest baristas, and Philz (near Mission Bay) is a San Francisco classic!

What experience surprised you the most? I didn't realize it at the time, but Small Group sessions mirror what rounds are like on the wards. I encourage everyone to engage with the clinical reasoning of small groups, as those will solidify pathways you'll use once rotations begin!

What is your favorite way to unwind or have fun outside of medicine? I love playing music with my friends (and the medical school band!), taking a dance class, or taking a stroll around Golden Gate Park. 

What do you wish you'd known when starting at UCSF? There’s a great deal of flexibility during the first one and a half years of medical school at UCSF. I encourage you to make time for fun experiences with new friends (if possible, travel or get outside!) and self-care in addition to the incredible career-related extracurriculars medical students pursue.

Hometown: San Jose, CA

UCSF Program: PRIME-US

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Parada 22 for good Puerto Rican food or anything from Bi-Rite on Divisadero (they accept EBT!) 

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? Flywheel Coffee Roasters on Stanyan Street is amazing but also strong. Fair warning. 

What is your favorite spot to relax or study on campus? The Tech Commons at the Kalmanovitz Library on the Parnassus Heights campus is quiet and has a lovely view of Golden Gate Park.

What is a must-do activity in the Bay Area? I would highly recommend heading to Oakland for so many fun activities, including First Fridays, the Black Joy Parade, and hanging out at Lake Merritt. If you can't make it to Oakland, Dolores Park in September is the best place to hang out and picnic.

What experience surprised you the most? I was surprised by how much I could make a difference in a patient's experience even as a medical student. During clinical rotations, medical students often have more time to interact with patients than the rest of the team. Using that time to connect with your patients can really improve their experience.

What is your favorite way to unwind or have fun outside of medicine? Running! I completed my first marathon in medical school while studying for Step 1, and it was the best way to decompress and get some Vitamin D after long days of studying inside. 

What do you wish you'd known when starting at UCSF? Investing in your community will ground you through this process. They will be the ones to remind you that you are right where you are meant to be and that you can do hard things.

Hometown: Anaheim, CA

UCSF Program: MD

What is your favorite restaurant near campus? Cha Cha Cha, a tapas restaurant.

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? Arsicault Bakery has the best pastries and coffee. 

What is your favorite spot to study on campus? The Clinical Sciences Building, because it has the newest study rooms with windows.

What is a must-do activity in the Bay Area? The Crosstown Trail. It’s a 17-mile hike across San Francisco, and there are incredible views and amazing cafes to stop at along the way. 

What experience surprised you the most? A rotation at the San Francisco General Hospital was a surprising experience since you get exposed to so many barriers medicine faces.

Hometown: Fresno, CA

UCSF Program: SJV PRIME

What is your go-to coffee or tea spot? I like Dutch Bros coffee. My favorite milk tea or boba in Fresno is Pearl Tea House on Shaw Avenue.

What is your favorite spot to relax or study on campus? To relax, the amphitheater by the UCSF Fresno building is peaceful and shaded, perfect for study breaks with friends. As for studying, the library in the UCSF Fresno building! There are tons of seating options, and the walking pads are perfect for staying motivated.

What experience surprised you the most? The outpatient internal medicine clinic surprised me the most. It revealed to me the significant gaps in access to timely, equitable care and the urgent need for improved health infrastructure in the San Joaquin Valley.

What is your favorite way to unwind or have fun outside of medicine? I love to read! I also spend a lot of time with my family, friends, and my cats. I love being outside, whether I am going on a hike or sitting under a tree in the summertime, reading a good book. 

What was your favorite research experience at UCSF, and did it influence your career plans? My favorite experience has been my year-long research project exploring teens’ attitudes and knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) in the Central Valley. Working with the residents and attendings at UCSF Fresno has been inspiring and has strengthened my commitment to OB/GYN. 

What do you wish you’d known when starting at UCSF? It is important to make time for yourself and do things you enjoy. Making friends and doing things you love will only make the journey easier.