University of the Pacific School of Health Sciences

Crystal Nuñez always dreamed of working as an athletic trainer in the NBA. 🏀 Less than a month after graduating from University of the Pacific School of Health Sciences, she received a call from Dr. Manny Romero, Coordinator of Clinical Education for our Athletic Training Department, who had secured a rare opportunity for her: a student internship with the Sacramento Kings medical team. Just three months later, she was offered a position with the Stockton Kings and an opportunity to assist the as well. 🎉

"As I complete year two with the Kings, the first person I need to thank is Manny," says Nuñez. "I am where I am because of him."

from the School of Health Sciences! 🧡 Today, we celebrate the fathers and father figures in our Pacific community, from the dads cheering on our current students to our alumni and the students balancing fatherhood with their education. We hope your day is filled with great company and celebration!

Celebrate by joining us at the following celebrations:

⭐ Pacific Juneteenth BBQ | Friday, June 19 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Pacific Stockton Campus, DeRosa University Center
⭐ Oak Park Juneteenth Block Party | Saturday, June 20 | 4 - 9 p.m. | Oak Park, 40 Acres Complex

In 2023, University of the Pacific began honoring as an official university holiday, giving students, faculty, and staff the day off as a time to reflect. Juneteenth recognizes the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read a federal order ending slavery. The day came two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

“It is a holiday that invites us to pause and think about the cost of freedom and equality,” Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mary Wardell-Ghirarduzzi wrote. “Understanding what Juneteenth symbolizes—the freedom of people who had been enslaved for the purposes of building up a seemingly free nation—helps us think about how freedom, in its best intentions, is also fraught with dissonance and oftentimes unrighteousness.”

Please join us in celebrating Juneteenth with food, fun, and community building at these annual events:
⭐ Pacific Juneteenth BBQ | Friday, June 19 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Pacific Stockton Campus, DeRosa University Center
⭐ Oak Park Juneteenth Block Party | Saturday, June 20 | 4 - 9 p.m. | Oak Park, 40 Acres Complex

So proud of our future health care leaders at the University of the Pacific School of Health Sciences and Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy for their work promoting and donations.

Students make life-saving impact through stem cell and bone marrow donation initiatives Just weeks after joining a stem cell donor registry during a guest lecture, Master of Science in Nursing student Adeleke Fashola ’26 received an unexpected phone call: He was a match. 

Nearly 50% of Americans who need treatment for issues can't get it. Within the mental health crisis facing California, and the specifically, access to care is severely limited. "There's an incredible shortage of mental health workers in behavioral health," discussed Dr. Amanda West, Department of Chair and Program Director, in a recent NPR interview. "We're talking about rural areas; we're talking about communities at risk and communities that are underserved."

📻 Listen to the full interview at the link in the comments below.

🚨 Now Open: Doctor of Physical Therapy Applications 🚨

Ready to take the next step toward becoming a movement expert?
Applications are officially OPEN for the University of the Pacific DPT program — Class of 2028 🎓

At Pacific, you’ll develop the clinical reasoning, hands-on skills, and confidence to make a real impact in people’s lives.

✅ Priority Deadline: October 1, 2026

👉 Start your journey today — links in the comments

On this , we celebrate University of the Pacific's very own Powercat (here being interviewed by my favorite Tiger TV correspondent, First Lady Jean Callahan, on Stockton Miracle Mile (Official)).

Last week, Adeleke Fashola ’26 flew to Seattle to donate stem cells to a young boy he had never met. 🥼🩸 This opportunity began when Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Anderson invited a representative from NMDP to speak with students about the need for stem cell donors. After the presentation, Fashola and other nursing students were invited to have their cheeks swabbed to see if they were a match for any patients. Seven weeks later, Fashola received a call informing him he was a match.

“When I really think about it, it’s just about doing the right thing," said Fashola. "This journey has been both humbling and inspiring. It served as a powerful reminder that even the smallest actions can have a profound impact on another person’s life."

The experience reflects the School of Health Sciences’ commitment to community engagement and service. Exposing students to organizations like the NMPD helps future nurses be better equipped to connect patients with resources that can change lives. Learn more about Fashola's life-saving impact at the link in the comments below.

And that concludes the first session of the University of the Pacific Summer High School Institute (SHSI)! 🐯 Over the past two weeks, high school students explored all ten departments of the School of Health Sciences, learning from faculty and current students. 🥼🩺 The session wrapped up with final presentations and a SHSI graduation ceremony, where they received a Pacific stole to wear at their high school graduation. This week, we welcome the second SHSI session, where students will spend two weeks learning from the Nursing Department.

View photos from the first session at the link in the comments below. 👇