CHSU welcomes Class of 2030, 36% of new cohort is from the Central Valley

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- California Health Sciences University officially welcomed its newest class of medical students Monday, bringing together 162 future physicians who will begin their journey toward careers in medicine.

Inside a classroom filled with excitement and anticipation, members of the Class of 2030 gathered for the first time, including first-year student Macy Kight-Truong.

"I feel like I've just been waiting for this for so long, and for it to finally be here seems kind of just crazy to me," Kight-Truong said.

The incoming class was selected from a pool of approximately 3,700 applicants. Within hours of arriving on campus, students were already diving into activities and coursework as they began orientation.

California Health Sciences University President Flo Dunn said the medical school was established to address a longstanding challenge in the Central Valley: keeping locally trained physicians in the region.

"We send our students away, and sometimes they don't come home," Dunn said. "The idea really is to recruit and retain here."

University leaders say the makeup of the newest cohort reflects that goal. About 90% of the incoming students are from California, and more than one-third come from the Central Valley.

Kight-Truong is among those local students. A Clovis native, she earned her bachelor's degree at UC San Diego before deciding to return home to attend medical school.

"My entire family is here. There are very few people not in the Central Valley in my family," she said. "Being able to have that support and not have to worry about when I can go home for the weekend, or how long is the drive, or do I have to take a flight to get home, I can just drive about 10 minutes away and visit my parents or my grandparents."

Kight-Truong said she currently hopes to pursue a career in neurology. While she may leave the area temporarily to complete a medical residency program, she ultimately plans to return to the Valley to practice medicine.

"I really would not want to be anywhere else or practice anywhere else except for here where I grew up and who made me who I am today," she said.

Since opening in 2020, California Health Sciences University has matriculated more than 1,000 students.

University officials said they expect some of the school's earliest graduates to complete their residencies and return to serve communities throughout the Central Valley in the years ahead.

For news updates, follow Jessica Harrington on Facebook, X and Instagram.