Dozens kick off physician training in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was a big day for new resident doctors at UCSF Fresno as the physician training program held an eight-hour boot camp Friday for its more than 80 new residents.

"Can you say a couple words for me how are you doing?" a doctor said during a demonstration.

They're scary words but it's what the new doctors, now residents at UCSF Fresno, need to hear.

The boot camp prepared them for the real-life situations they will soon face in the hospital.

Paul Ranu starts his three-year resident training Monday, and he tells Action News transitioning from being a medical student to this is a bit overwhelming.

"It almost gives you a heart attack yourself because you're like, 'Oh my God,' I know I learned what to do," he said.

UCSF Fresno is the largest physician craning program in the San Joaquin Valley and some 600 medical residents and students are trained here annually.

Dr. Rene Ramirez, one of the clinical instructors, says having the residents here could help with the valley's shortage of doctors.

"The hope is a good number of those people who come to train here will like to stay within the area and continue to serve those patients, even after they're training has finished," she said.

And that's just what Ranu who is from Sanger plans to do.

"For me, it's home and if I can give back, and maybe inspire the next generation of kids to come back," he said.