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Sciences, Mathematics and Biotechnology

Photo of Reiss Reid sitting on a chair backward in front of a pink and blue background
 

From Discovery to Market

 

Nothing Is Impossible

Diverse students working at a lab with microscopes
 

Paths to a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Career

Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alum Alan Tran wearing his medical school jacket

Believe in Yourself

Lori Gray - November 15, 2022

Alan Tran’s initial interest in biological sciences was influenced by a life-changing experience during high school when he was a volunteer at the front desk of Kaiser Permanente in Fremont.

Student Stories sciences Post-Bacc Health medical school biology organic chemistry academic enhancer program graduate
Photo of Reiss Reid sitting on a chair backward in front of a pink and blue background

From Discovery to Market

Sarah Benzuly - October 19, 2022

Reiss Reid is a self-proclaimed nerd. Like a moth to the flame, Reiss could spend all of his waking hours in the lab, developing new therapies to battle cancer by harnessing the power of the

Student Stories regulatory affairs drug development clinical research

Nothing Is Impossible

Carolynne Mims - October 3, 2022

Think about your own goals. How many have you set? How many did you successfully achieve?

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Daniel Benjamin headshot on black and white background

Educating Tomorrow’s Scientists

Sarah Benzuly - August 17, 2022

Daniel Benjamin is, by nature, a curious learner. He’s fascinated by the intricacies of the human body, which has been the core focus of his own education and scholarly pursuits.

Educator Insights sciences online science courses cancer exercise nutrition
Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alumna Anne edson Chiruvolu in her UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine robes

From Pie in the Sky to Veterinary Medical School

Lori Gray - August 1, 2022

When Anne Chiruvolu was growing up in Massachusetts, she knew her interest in life sciences and in animals would eventually lead to a veterinary career.

So she attended Johns Hopkins

Student Stories sciences veterinary school medical school Post-Bacc Health
Diverse students working at a lab with microscopes

Paths to a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Career

Sarah Benzuly - June 27, 2022

With an obvious need and depth of roles available for a clinical laboratory scientist, is this field right for you? Read on to see how you can fill the many CLS positions and get certified.

Professional Pathways clinical laboratory science sciences
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Paths to Becoming a Nurse

Sarah Benzuly - May 10, 2022

“The pandemic made me realize how essential good health care is and it's been exciting to be a part of that,” says Jeff Peeler, a 2020 program alumnus of our Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions

Professional Pathways nursing medicine career
Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alum Alexander Craig with lab stock photo background

Providing the Humanity in Health Care

Lori Gray - April 20, 2022

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alexander Craig attended Princeton University for his undergraduate degree, studying classics and the philosophy of science.

“I had a strong

Student Stories Post-Bacc Health sciences hematology medical school program graduate
Photo of Meagan Barry in front of medical equipment with illustrative background

Building a Successful PA Career

Sarah Benzuly - March 29, 2022

From a young age, Meagan Barry was drawn to medicine. Her father was an orthopedic surgeon and that type of care resonated with her. But it was during her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara

Student Stories health professionals Health Professions Post-Bacc Health
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March 10 Online Event: Career Exploration Series—Expert Tips for Launching Your Biotech Career

Sarah Benzuly - February 11, 2022

Facilitated by guest speaker and experienced pharma consultant Maureen Martin, this event will share tips on the importance of finding and utilizing a mentor to launch your career.

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Clinical Laboratory Scientist Preparatory Program graduate Gilmar Danila

Finding the Right Career Path at the Right Time

Andrew Guest - February 9, 2022

Ironically, it was serendipitous that the COVID-19 pandemic hit just when Gilmar Danila began his studies to become a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) in our Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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Jeff-Peeler-Post-Bacc

Software Expert Makes Big Career Change

Jill Vanderkar - November 8, 2021

After becoming a hospice volunteer in 2017, Jeff Peeler never imagined it would lead him to an entire career change. Although he enjoyed his 13-plus-year career in software engineer and manager

Student Stories Post-Bacc Health
Photo of Laura Potter wearing white medical jacket in front of flower background

Bridging the Educational Gap

Sarah Benzuly - October 7, 2021

“Why?” That’s Laura Potter’s go-to question when it comes to deciphering the intricacies of biological phenomena.

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Erica-Situ-Post-Bacc

Nurse Practitioner in the Making

Jill Vanderkar - October 7, 2021

In 2019, Erica earned her B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences from Purdue University. Fresh out of undergraduate school, she went on to work as a medical scribe and a home care provider at an

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Medical School It Is……

Carolynne Mims - October 4, 2021

Medicine can be a career that is both challenging and highly rewarding.

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Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alumna Ferheen Abbasi wearing a UC Davis Health blazer, in front of white brick wall

Making Personal Goals Into Health Care Aspirations

Lori Gray - September 10, 2021

According to Ferheen Abbasi’s LinkedIn profile, she is “passionate about making strong social change in the world” and her “greatest goal in life is to find a non-hormonal contraception method

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CLS Prep Program graduate Ester Fernandez standing by water, under a tree

Bringing Personal Experience to Clinical Lab Science

Lori Gray - August 9, 2021

Ester Fernandez was interning at a local Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office in Santa Rosa, Calif., when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. That’s when

Student Stories sciences CLS clinical laboratory science graduate
Anita Satish, Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alumna

You Can Be in Two Places at Once in Health Care

Lori Gray - August 5, 2021

Current UC San Diego School of Medicine (Class of 2023) student Anita Satish has long held a goal: Be in a position where she can have one foot in the health care industry and one foot in the

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Quantitative Analysis: Applications in Clinical Chemistry instructor Thomas Kampfrath

Clinical Lab Science and Health Care

Lori Gray - July 19, 2021

Clinical laboratory scientist.
Laboratory technologist.
Pharmacist.
Physician.

No matter what career path you are on, clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine cover many

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Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program alumnus Jesus Mejia

Achieving Academic Goals for a Career in Health Care

Lori Gray - July 6, 2021

Jesus Mejia’s medical career dreams are built on the relationships that he has made. From volunteering at a pediatric hospital in his hometown in Missouri, to participating in the student medical

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Cassandra Smith Blog Well Image

An ER Nurse With Doctoral Dreams

Jill Vanderkar - May 26, 2021

Cassandra Smith has always had an interest in the medical field. The desire to make a difference in the health care world propelled her to receive a B.S. in Life Science from Kansas State

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A Journey to Becoming a Doctor Becomes a Reality

Jill Vanderkar - May 19, 2021

Seven years ago, Kathleen Douangchak’s life looked a little different. You could find her all the way in Burkina Faso, West Africa, teaching English and science to children and working with the

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Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions student, Community Impact scholarship winner Jessica Raya

The Hierarchy of Meeting Needs

Lori Gray - May 13, 2021

In a way, Jessica Raya’s personal background has been built on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs concept. Born in Sacramento, Calif., Jessica eventually moved with her family to the Central

Student Stories postbaccalaureate Health Professions health care community impact scholarship winner
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Starting a Career in Nursing—In 2020

Jill Vanderkar - May 5, 2021

It is no secret that last year was quite a challenge! Now imagine finishing nursing school and starting your nursing career all around that time. We know a nurses role is often underestimated, let

postbaccalaureate Student Stories
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Eyes Set on Being COO in Healthcare

Sarah Benzuly - November 29, 2020

When Dylan Blackburn was 7, he was diagnosed with having a tumor growing on his pituitary gland (Cushing’s syndrome). He underwent brain surgery and was thought to have a life expectancy of 12.

Student Stories sciences health care genomics
Photo of instructor Geoff Sargent hugging an acoustic banjo

At the Forefront of Gene Editing

Sarah Benzuly - October 19, 2020

I asked Geoff his thoughts on being named a 2020 Inspirational Instructor. He looked around his garage—where he was taking our interview on Zoom, 2020 being what it is—seemingly trying to come up

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Berkeley’s Jennifer Doudna Awarded Nobel Prize

Sarah Benzuly - October 9, 2020

A hearty congratulations to the latest UC Berkeley Nobel Prize winner: biochemist Jennifer Doudna in Chemistry. She shares this honor with colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier for the co-development

Educator Insights nobel crispr
Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program student, scholarship winner Aidan Loeser standing outside

Fighting Inequity in Health Care

Lori Gray - February 18, 2020

“I’m a career changer,” Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program student Aidan Loeser writes in her scholarship application.

For more than six years, Aidan was making a difference in

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Post-Bacc Health Professions student, scholarship winner Matt Klinkel on a beach with a dog

Working Toward a Bright Future in Medicine

Lori Gray - January 23, 2020

It is not surprising that Robert Matthew (Matt) Klinkel has excelled as a student in UC Berkeley Extension’s Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program; in 2014, he was a Fulbright scholar at

Student Stories sciences psychiatry premed Neuroscience Spanish scholarship

From Junior Biologist to Senior Medical Writer

Cheryl Cline - January 6, 2020

“[Enrolling in the Certificate Program in Clinical Research Conduct and Management] was probably the best decision I've made in my life—I am not exaggerating. I have my current job literally

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Event: CRISPR Genome Editing

Sarah Benzuly - January 3, 2020

Genome editing is adapting and evolving rapidly. Learn about the science behind the CRISPR technology and its real-world applications.

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Meet 2019 Extension Honored Instructor Dr. Rachael Webster

Cheryl Cline - December 4, 2019

“To me, science feels like a giant mystery where the clues are just waiting there for you to find,” says Dr. Rachael Webster, one of our 2019 Honored Instructors who teaches Medical Microbiology

instructor honored instructor Rachael Webster Instructor Profiles medical microbiology
Alexander Lipson in his nursing outfit standing in front of a clinical setting

Studying to Become a Nurse

Sarah Benzuly - July 17, 2019

The path to working in the health professions can be a winding road. There are so many questions to ask of yourself:

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Image of instructor Sylvia Gayle on top of an image of a gene

On the Road to Curing Cancer

Sylvia Gayle - June 19, 2019

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The more educated we are about cancer, the better equipped we will be to fight against it.

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Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program graduate Jayinee Basu stands in front of a gray wall with sunlight on her shoulder

The Caesura That Led to Medical School

Lori Gray - March 21, 2019

While Jayinee Basu was pursuing her double major in literature/writing and political science—with a minor in studio art—at the University of California, San Diego, the thought of becoming a doctor

Student Stories Health Professions osteopathic medicine sciences career change
Health Professions Program graduate Ilse Tejeda standing between two health professionals

Entrenched in Clinical Rotations at P.A. School

Sarah Benzuly - February 7, 2019

The decision to make a career in medicine can be a very personal one. Witnessing family members navigate our complex health care system. Finding dead ends when there should be solutions. Lacking

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Brandon Lim wearing his hospital

Firmly Entrenched at Northwestern University Physician Assistant Program

Sarah Benzuly - November 2, 2018

With every step Brandon Lim takes, he’s getting closer to his dream job of working in a patient-centered role.

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Phillip Vogeley wearing a gray button-up shirt and posing in front of a concrete wall

From Intern to Regulatory Associate

Sarah Benzuly - October 26, 2018

One year and one month: The fast-track timeframe for Phillip to take his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Davis and jump-start a career in regulatory affairs. And this career

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Career-Changing From Software Engineering to Medicine

Sarah Benzuly - September 19, 2018

Despite traveling and working around the globe and working at lucrative tech startups, Bradley Heinz kept feeling the draw to medicine.

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Understanding Regulatory Affairs Through an IT Lens

Sarah Benzuly - September 5, 2018

For Barbara Hanly, it’s all about making a difference in patient care and health.

Student Stories graduate regulatory affairs health care
Marianna Lenoci posing in front of a Sierra lake while holding her puppy

One Word: Dedicated

Sarah Benzuly - September 4, 2018

About 10 years ago, Marianna Lenoci found herself at a place in her career where she wasn’t advancing. Should she explore a career shift? Would additional education give her the needed bump?

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A shelf full of pharmaceutical products

The Drug Development Process: An Intensive Seminar

Sarah Benzuly - August 28, 2018

You’ve seen the TV ads time and again: A new prescription drug has just come to market that promises to alleviate the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, arthritis, allergies, migraines or myriad other

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Job Demands Understanding of Regulatory Affairs

Sarah Benzuly - August 21, 2018

Suzette Nubie has more than 21 years of professional experience working in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. During her tenure, Suzette has worked in both quality control and quality

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Understanding Regulatory Affairs’ Impact on Clinical Trials

Sarah Benzuly - August 1, 2018

This continuous flow of information and understanding are what brought Jennifer Cuvin to our Professional Program in Regulatory Affairs.

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From Our Post-Bacc Health Professions Program to UCSF Dental School

Sarah Benzuly - June 27, 2018

For almost six years, Kyle Takahashi worked at a private dental practice in Piedmont, Calif. There, he worked on the frontlines with the patients—from scheduling to interacting with insurance

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Fusing Bench Research With Patient Treatments

Sarah Benzuly - June 11, 2018

Jyotiska Chaudhuri’s résumé is impressive.

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Knee-Deep in Medical School Acceptance Letters

Sarah Benzuly - June 4, 2018

Back in 2015, Leslie Cachola was having difficulty getting accepted into medical school. She had a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University. She had full-time work experience in clinical

Student Stories Health Professions medical school

From Science Courses to SFSU Clinical Laboratory Scientist Program

Sarah Benzuly - December 21, 2017

PingWah Poon is no stranger to the medical world. He has a bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Davis. He worked at a biotech company for five years: first as a gene

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Finding a Career at the Intersection of Medicine and Science

Sarah Benzuly - December 6, 2017

When Victor Gavallos started his undergraduate education at University of San Francisco, his goal was to continue to his studies to become a doctor—specifically, a pathologist.

Student Stories clinical laboratory science CLS medicine sciences

Certificate + Internship = Job Opportunities Abound

Sarah Benzuly - October 9, 2017

When pharmacist Swapna Deshpande moved to the United States in 2013, she had a Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Quality Assurance from her native India. One would have thought that she had the

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Ins and Outs of Applying to a Graduate-Level Health Professions Program

Sarah Benzuly - August 8, 2017

According to the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, more than 53,000 medical school hopefuls applied for just 21,000 available spots—so only about 40% of applicants were

Professional Pathways Health Professions graduate school sciences

So You Want to Be a Nutritionist

Sarah Benzuly - May 1, 2017

Nutrition is a complex multidisciplinary field that brings together the biological sciences, economics, politics, human behavior and environmental science. I chose to pursue a graduate degree in

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The Science of Music, the Music in Science

Sarah Benzuly - February 15, 2017

At its base, music is a result of mathematical principles and logic. It's a set of formulas and theories to produce a set of notes that invoke, inspire and imagine. The same holds true for science

Student Stories sciences online science courses music

Is It Calculus' Fault?

Sarah Benzuly - November 16, 2016

In the next six years, the U.S. will need to employ 1 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates in order to meet the demands of American industry.

Industry Trends sciences Technology and Information Management engineering

Learning by Doing

Sarah Benzuly - September 11, 2016

Sure, you could learn about biochemistry or stem cell research by reading a book, attending class lectures and the like, but how does that apply to what you'll be faced with in the real world?

Educator Insights sciences

Oh, the Humanity

Sarah Benzuly - August 30, 2016

In his finance days, Young Kang would feel a surge of pride every time his clients were on the path to meeting their financial goals. But he wanted to do so much more for them.

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Hot Topic: Zika Virus and Virology

Sarah Benzuly - August 15, 2016

The U.S. is just one of the 65 countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission.

Industry Trends sciences

Feeding Her Soul

Sarah Benzuly - June 22, 2016

Nutrition plays a major role in our physical, mental and emotional health—a truism that registered dietitian Melissa Javaheri fully subscribes to. And her patients are the better for it.

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Meet Your Instructor: Monica Ranes-Goldberg

Sarah Benzuly - June 5, 2016

Longtime UC Berkeley Extension science instructor Monica Ranes-Goldberg has been creating online science courses since 1999.

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On the Cutting Edge: Genomic Medicine

Sarah Benzuly - May 23, 2016

Genomic medicine is affecting health care by dramatically changing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

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Meet Health Professions Graduate Katie Fenton

Sarah Benzuly - May 16, 2016

Katie Fenton loved the high adrenaline that comes from being a military nurse—a path she's followed since graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing

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Meet Your Instructor: Kashif Ahmad

Sarah Benzuly - May 16, 2016

Kashif Ahmad is no stranger to teaching science courses: He has seen the online learning environment become more accepted and a way to implement new technologies.

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Kristen Fortnam sitting at a medical bench

Meet Graduate Kristen Fortnam

Sarah Benzuly - April 13, 2016

The field of biological sciences is constantly evolving, what with new discoveries, research and novel techniques inundating a scientist on a daily basis.

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Meet Graduate Jeremy Kiene

Sarah Benzuly - April 13, 2016

Jeremy Kiene is in the process of reinventing himself.

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Graduate Update: Daniel Shapiro

Sarah Benzuly - April 12, 2016

Fourth-year medical student Daniel Shapiro successfully matched with Boston Combined Residency Program's pediatrics.

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Have Credits, Will Apply

Sarah Benzuly - April 3, 2016

As an undergraduate at SF State, Jarell Cruz was having trouble getting into classes—either they were only offered every other semester or they were full.

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Graduate Update: Jennifer Brandl

Sarah Benzuly - December 31, 2015

When Jennifer Brandl first began the Certificate Program in Clinical Research Conduct and Management online, she was a research associate and felt limited in career prospects as she lacked a

Student Stories clinical research graduate career enhancing

On Her Way to a Successful CLS Career

Sarah Benzuly - March 31, 2015

Vanessa Vun is enjoying a successful career as a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) at the University of California, San Francisco, thanks in part to UC Berkeley Extension's Immunology and

Student Stories Health Professions CLS

Switching Careers Into Clinical Research

Sarah Benzuly - June 30, 2014

A graduate of the Certificate Program in Clinical Research Conduct and Management, Joyce Nortey is now a clinical research associate—a position she believes is the result of receiving the

Student Stories graduate clinical research career change