CHSU Alumna Receives San Joaquin Valley Medical Foundation Scholarship

California Health Sciences University is proud to congratulate Marissa Monazzami, DO, a 2024 graduate of the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, on recently receiving a scholarship from the San Joaquin Valley Medical Scholarship Foundation.

Dr. Monazzami was among four Central Valley physicians recognized during the foundation’s scholarship awards ceremony on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno. Each recipient received a $55,000 scholarship to help reduce medical school tuition debt while they continue their residency training under a primary care specialty.

The San Joaquin Valley Medical Scholarship Foundation works to address the region’s shortage of primary care physicians by supporting residents who commit to practicing in an underserved area within the Central Valley for at least four years after completing their residency training. This commitment closely aligns with CHSU’s mission and values by supporting locally trained physicians, expanding access to primary care, and improving the health and well-being of underserved communities throughout the Central Valley.

Dr. Monazzami is currently a third-year chief resident physician in the UCSF Fresno Family Medicine Residency Program. Her professional journey and continued dedication to serving the region exemplify CHSU’s mission to improve access to health care throughout the Central Valley.

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Monazzami shared:

“I love serving my community. [It is an] extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience. But it is frustrating as well, I think that just comes from how much passion we have for serving our patients and seeing how many barriers they have to care. But that just makes me even more passionate about not only advocating for change on the patient side, but also on the physician side because I know this is the community I want to serve and I really wouldn’t have it any other way,”

Marissa Monazzami, DO, Chief Resident Physician, UCSF Fresno Family Medicine; Alumna, CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2024.

As she continues her training, Dr. Monazzami remains committed to advocating for patients and physicians while helping build a healthier future for the community she proudly calls home.

View the ABC 30 news story and video interviews of Dr. Monazzami and Dr. Sergio Ilic of the San Joaquin Valley Medical Scholarship Foundation (SJVMSF).