Industry Overview – Health & Medical
Healthcare is one of the Central Valley’s fastest-evolving industries, driven by population growth, expanding communities and persistent demand for physicians, nurses, behavioral health professionals and other skilled workers. Regional health systems are responding by expanding hospitals, outpatient facilities, specialty care and community-based clinics while forming partnerships that extend services into rural and historically underserved areas.
At the same time, the Valley is strengthening its own healthcare workforce pipeline. UCSF Fresno continues to expand residency and fellowship training, California Health Sciences University is graduating new physicians, and UC Merced’s San Joaquin Valley PRIME+ pathway is designed to educate, train and retain doctors with strong ties to the region. This “from the Valley, for the Valley” approach is becoming central to addressing the physician shortage.
Healthcare growth is also supporting a broader medical manufacturing and distribution cluster. Companies producing mobility equipment, diagnostic technology, medical-grade materials, orthopedic products and infectious-waste systems benefit from the Valley’s available industrial space, skilled production workforce and access to California markets. Together, healthcare delivery, medical education and medical manufacturing are creating an increasingly connected regional health economy.
Manufacturing Companies
Health and Medical
Custom Training Programs
Physician and Advanced Clinical Training
- California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine — Fresno County
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences programs. - UC Merced San Joaquin Valley PRIME+ B.S.-to-M.D. Program — Merced County
An eight-year pathway connecting undergraduate study at UC Merced with medical education through UCSF and clinical training at UCSF Fresno. - UCSF Fresno Medical Student Programs — Fresno County
Clinical clerkships, electives and undergraduate medical education. - UCSF Fresno Residency and Fellowship Programs — Fresno County
Graduate medical education in primary care, surgery and numerous medical specialties. - Kern Medical Residency and Fellowship Programs — Kern County
Physician and clinical pharmacy training through multiple residency and fellowship programs. - Kaweah Health Graduate Medical Education — Tulare County
Residency programs in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, surgery and transitional-year training. - University of the Pacific Master of Physician Assistant Studies — San Joaquin County
Graduate-level physician assistant education at the Stockton campus.
Nursing and Allied Health Training
- Bakersfield College Registered Nursing — Kern County
- California State University, Bakersfield Nursing — Kern County
- Fresno State School of Nursing — Fresno County
- Fresno City College Healthcare and Wellness Programs — Fresno County
- Madera Community College Registered Nursing — Madera County
This replaces the former “SCCCD Madera Center” listing. - Lemoore College Nursing Program — Kings County
- College of the Sequoias Nursing and Allied Health — Tulare County
- Merced College Health Sciences — Merced County
Includes nursing, radiologic technology, diagnostic medical sonography, medical assisting and related programs. - Modesto Junior College School of Health Professions — Stanislaus County
- Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts—Modesto Campus — Stanislaus County
- San Joaquin Delta College Health Science Programs — San Joaquin County
Includes nursing, radiologic technology, EMT, psychiatric technology and other healthcare pathways.
Early Health-Career Pathways
- Health Careers Academy — San Joaquin County
A health-focused high school offering college preparation and healthcare career-technical pathways. - UC Merced Pre-Health Advising — Merced County
Advising and preparation for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and other health professions. - UC Merced Pre-Health Mentorship Program — Merced County
Builds early health-career awareness and provides mentorship for undergraduate students.
With high-skilled commuters and a growing medical cluster, biotech and medical service companies are popping up in communities throughout Central California.
Wages
