# California Health Sciences University

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit university located in Clovis, California. Established in 2012, the university offers academic programs in the fields of medicine and biomedical sciences. Graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and graduates of the College of Biosciences and Health Professions (CBHP) will receive the Masters Of Science In Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree. Previously, CHSU offered a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, but this program has since been discontinued.

## History

CHSU was founded in 2012 to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in California's Central Valley region.
The first academic program launched was the College of Pharmacy in 2014, offering a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree. In 2020, CHSU established the College of Osteopathic Medicine to train primary care physicians for the Central Valley, an area that previously lacked a medical school. In 2022, the College of Biosciences and Health Professions was established, offering a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree.
Prior to CHSU's opening, the Fresno area was the largest city in the United States without a medical school. While UCSF Fresno, a medical residency program at Fresno Community Medical Center, was established in 1975 to address physician shortages in the San Joaquin Valley, it only became a branch campus of the UCSF School of Medicine in 2018.
Construction for CHSU's campus broke ground in 2018, and the inaugural class commenced studies in the Fall of 2020. Upon opening, controversy surrounded CHSU's for-profit status and high tuition costs. Concerns were raised about the relationship Farid Assemi, the owner of CHSU, had between CHSU and the Community Medical Center of which he is a board member.

## College of Osteopathic Medicine

California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a four-year medical school located in Clovis, California. Established to address the need for primary care physicians in the Central Valley region, it confers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
In December 2018, the college received approval to begin recruiting students, with the inaugural class commencing studies in the Fall of 2020 and graduating in May 2024. Among the graduates, 65% secured placements in primary care specialties, and 34% opted for residencies within the Central Valley region.
CHSU-COM's curriculum includes a focus on culinary medicine, integrating nutrition and culinary skills into medical education in line with osteopathic principles. The curriculum also incorporates Spanish language training to prepare students to serve the diverse patient populations in the region. The institution utilizes technology for virtual 3D anatomical training, in lieu of traditional cadaver labs for anatomy instruction. Clerkships for third and fourth-year students primarily take place in the Clovis/Fresno area, with additional opportunities in surrounding regions and other parts of California through prior arrangements. In April 2024, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted CHSU a seven-year accreditation term, the maximum accreditation term for a new medical school.

## College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy (CHSU-COP) at California Health Sciences University had offered a 4-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree but no longer does. In 2020, the program encountered accreditation challenges when its pre-accreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) was withdrawn due to non-compliance with accreditation standards.
In response, CHSU initiated a new accreditation application process in 2021 for a revised, 3-year Doctor of Pharmacy program. Unfortunately, the program was denied precandidate status by ACPE in 2022, with the option to appeal. CHSU chose not to pursue an appeal.

## College of Biosciences and Health Professions

The College of Biosciences and Health Professions offers two programs leading to a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree. These programs include a one-year non-thesis track and a two-year thesis track. Graduates of the MSBS Program who meet specified requirements are guaranteed an interview with the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. However, admission is not guaranteed. The college is the newest addition to the university and graduated it's inaugural class in May 2024.

## Campus

The campus at 2500 Alluvial Ave consists of a 90,000 sq-foot three-story building, newly constructed in 2020, housing the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The facility opened for instruction for its inaugural class of medical students in the fall of 2020.