Dr. John Graneto serves as the Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at CHSU.[3] Dr. Sree Pattipati is the Dean of the College of Biosciences and Health Professions.[4]
California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit institution located in Clovis, California, in the Central Valley region. Established in 2012, CHSU was founded to help improve the health outcomes of people living in the Central Valley by addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the region. The university currently operates two colleges: the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and the College of Biosciences and Health Professions, which offers the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree.
CHSU holds institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).[5] Its College of Osteopathic Medicine is fully accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)[6], receiving a seven-year accreditation term in April 2024.
In 2023, CHSU reported an enrollment of 527 full-time students across all programs. For the 2025–26 academic year, the College of Osteopathic Medicine enrolled 630 medical students, including 162 first-year students.[7]
History
CHSU was founded in 2012 to help address regional shortages of healthcare professionals in the Central Valley. In 2014, the university launched its first academic program, the College of Pharmacy, offering a four-year PharmD degree. A total of 325 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees were awarded to CHSU graduates between 2018-2024. In 2018, construction began on a permanent campus in Clovis, and in December of that year, CHSU received approval to begin student recruitment for the College of Osteopathic Medicine. CHSU’s 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy program had its preaccreditation status withdrawn in 2021 by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education after 3 of the 25 standards still needed to be met. The COP remained open with ACPE candidate status from 2021-2024. With candidate status, students in the program were able to graduate, apply for residencies, take their licensing exams, and become pharmacists. CHSU suspended plans to open a new, 3-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2022 based on the job outlook and decreasing pharmacy school applications nationally. https://chsu.edu/about-chsu/#about-chsu
The inaugural DO class began studies in Fall 2020. In 2022, the university established the College of Biosciences and Health Professions to offer the MSBS degree; the first cohort graduated in May 2024.
Before CHSU’s establishment, Fresno was the largest city in the United States without a medical school. In 2018, the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine formally designated UCSF Fresno as a branch campus, though it had operated medical residency programs in the area since the 1970s[8].
2012
CHSU was founded to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in California’s Central Valley.
2014
The university launches its first academic program: the College of Pharmacy, offering a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.
2018
Construction begins on CHSU’s permanent campus in Clovis.
In December, CHSU received approval to recruit students for the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
2020
Fall of 2020, the inaugural class of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program begins studies.
2022
CHSU establishes the College of Biosciences and Health Professions, offering the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree.
May 2024
The first cohort of MSBS students graduates. 60% of graduates have enrolled in the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Establishment Year – 2020 (inaugural class began Fall 2020)
Program Length / Degree – Four-year program leading to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree
Accreditation – Accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) – Received a seven-year accreditation term in April 2024
Curriculum Highlights – Emphasis on training for rural and underserved communities – Integrates culinary medicine, Spanish-language instruction, and augmented holographic anatomy (in place of gross anatomy) – Clinical rotations based primarily in California, especially the Central Valley area
Enrollment / Class Size – For the 2025–26 academic year, the College of Osteopathic Medicine enrolled 630 medical students, including 162 first-year students.
Outcomes – 100% of 2024 and 2025 graduates matched in residency programs[9]
– Among inaugural graduates, approximately 65% entered primary care specialties
– 34% matched to residencies within the Central Valley
College of Biosciences and Health Professions
Establishment Year – 2022
Program Length / Degree – One- or two-year Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) – Options for thesis and non-thesis tracks
Accreditation – Covered under institutional accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Curriculum Highlights – Designed to strengthen applicants’ candidacy for professional healthcare programs – Expedited interview for CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine for qualified students (admission not guaranteed)
Enrollment / Class Size – First graduating class completed in May 2024, 13 graduatess
– Second graduating class completed in May 2025, 22 graduates
– The class size is expected to grow with an approved class size of up to 50 students
– Specific placement or continuation outcomes not detailed in the provided content
College of Pharmacy
Establishment Year – 2014
Program Length / Degree – Initially a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program – Later proposed as a three-year version (not approved)
Accreditation – Pre-accreditation withdrawn by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) in 2020 due not meeting all standards in allotted time – Revised three-year program denied pre-candidate status in 2022 – CHSU chose not to appeal
. –A total of 325 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees were awarded to CHSU graduates between 2018-2024.
Campus
Location and Acreage
The CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine is located at 2500 Alluvial Avenue, Clovis, California, in the heart of California’s Central Valley.
The campus is situated on a 110-acre site master-planned for future institutional expansion and development.
Its location provides proximity to key healthcare facilities in Fresno and Clovis, supporting clinical partnerships and student clinical clerkship rotations.
Square Footage and Primary Facilities
The first academic building, completed in 2020, is a three-story, 90,000-square-foot structure that currently houses the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The facility includes:
Modern classrooms equipped with advanced A/V and interactive learning technology
Simulation Center with standardized patient exam rooms and high-fidelity simulation labs
Virtual holographic anatomy laboratory tools instead of gross anatomy
Health Sciences Library
Teaching and Demonstration Kitchen for culinary medicine curriculum
Faculty and administrative offices
Student common areas and study zones designed to foster collaborative learning
CHSU’s master campus plan includes multiple phases intended to accommodate additional colleges, research centers, and student amenities.
Future construction phases may include:
A second academic building to support expanded enrollment or new health science programs
A resource center
Green space and wellness zones for outdoor study and recreation
As of 2024, the university continues to assess timing and demand to guide the implementation of future construction phases.
Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)[13]
Programmatic Accreditation:
College of Osteopathic Medicine – Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), full seven-year term granted in April 2024[14]
College of Pharmacy – In 2020, ACPE withdrew pre-accreditation from CHSU’s College of Pharmacy due to non-compliance with Standards 8 (Organization and Governance), 18 (Faculty and Staff – Quantitative Factors), and 22 (Practice Facilities)
Clinical Partnerships and Training Sites
California Health Sciences University (CHSU) maintains partnerships with healthcare systems, clinics, and hospitals throughout California’s Central Valley to facilitate clinical training for its medical students. These partnerships support third- and fourth-year students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program through core clinical rotations and elective clerkships in a variety of specialties.
CHSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine emphasizes primary care education, and many of its training sites are located in underserved or rural areas of the San Joaquin Valley. Clinical experiences are primarily based in the Fresno–Clovis metropolitan area, with additional training sites extending to neighboring communities in the region. Through these affiliations, students gain hands-on experience in internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and other medical disciplines.
The university's community-based medical education model is designed to address physician shortages in the region. According to the California Health Care Foundation and the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program, the Central Valley has historically experienced some of the lowest physician-to-population ratios in the state.[1][2] By providing local training opportunities, CHSU aims to increase the number of medical graduates who choose to practice within the region after completing their education and residency.
CHSU’s clinical partners include community hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics, and private practice groups. These collaborations contribute to the university's mission to expand access to care and improve health outcomes in the Central Valley.
Citations you could include (suggested based on public sources):
California Health Care Foundation. “California Physicians: Almanac 2023.” CHCF.org
UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program Annual Report
Community Role & Regional Information
CHSU maintains partnerships with healthcare providers throughout the Central Valley to offer clinical rotation sites and clerkships for its medical students. These experiences are designed to support local workforce development and expand access to primary care in underserved communities.
This mission aligns with pressing regional needs:
A 2024 CHCF survey found that 50% of Central Valley residents believe their community lacks enough healthcare providers, and 63% delayed care due to cost or access—significantly higher than the California average.[15]
The San Joaquin Valley has among the lowest primary care physician-to-population ratios in the state—about 47 PCPs per 100,000 residents, compared to a statewide average of ~90 fresnoland.org.[16]
California Physicians Almanac data confirms that the San Joaquin Valley is below recommended benchmarks for both primary care and specialist physicians.[17]
A UCSF Fresno report notes that nearly half of its residency graduates remain in the Central Valley, highlighting the impact of local clinical training on retaining physicians.
Why This Matters
Training and placing physicians locally directly combats the physician shortage in the region.
CHSU’s clinical pipelines—through rotations and partnerships—support the primary-care mission of its DO program.
By linking medical education with regional workforce needs, CHSU is strategically positioned to improve healthcare access in a traditionally underserved area.
Mission and Community Engagement
CHSU was established with the mission to improve healthcare access in the San Joaquin Valley by educating clinicians likely to remain and practice in the region. Programs are designed to address community health needs, focusing on primary care, cultural competency, and regional workforce development.
34% secured residency placements in the Central Valley[19]
Controversies
Upon opening, CHSU faced scrutiny related to its for-profit status and tuition structure. Concerns were also raised about governance due to founder Farid Assemi’s simultaneous role as a board member of the local Community Medical Centers.[20]
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