News: College of Medicine

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Advance in Medicine

June 9^th, 2025

Join CNU College of Medicine for a week-long camp for high school and college undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Our mission isto uplift and empower future generations of healthcare professionals while emphasizing the importance of diversity.

Camp attendees will get a glimpse into medical education through hands-on labs, interactive workshops, and meaningful discussions with current professional students. The camp is fully expensed, and no prior experience is required to apply. We are seeking passionate, enthusiastic learners who wish to explore the field of medicine and opportunities within healthcare.

The deadline to apply has already passed. This is simply to update the website with the new name for record purposes. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you!

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Match Day Class of 2025

March 21^st, 2025

Match Day is a pivotal moment for medical students, revealing where they will transition from medical school to residency.
“The Match” sets the trajectory for the next chapter in these physicians' careers and their roles in the nation's healthcare system.
The Match 2025

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CNU Talent Show: A Celebration of Talent and Unity

January 16th, 2025

The California Northstate University College of Medicine (CNUCOM) recently hosted a spectacular talent showcase that brought together students, faculty, and staff for an evening of unforgettable performances. The highly anticipated CNU Talent Show was organized by the CNUCOM Student Body Council, with the coordination efforts of Hannah Chang, Anya Ramsamooj, Eliette Seo, Michael Youn, Nilo Tehrani, and Chance Aguiar. Also in attendance was CNU’s President Alvin Cheung and the Dean Richard. The silent auction of Dr. Isaacs hosted two groups of students, which brought in $600 for each event.

The event aimed to provide students and faculty with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents while fostering a sense of unity and community within the medical school. With the spirit of collaboration in mind, the event also served a charitable purpose—100% of the funds raised through ticket sales and a silent auction were donated to the CNUCOM Medball funds, a cause that further strengthens the bonds among students and faculty.

A Night of Diverse Talent

The talent show featured a range of performances, from heart-stirring vocals to captivating instrumental pieces and dynamic dance routines. The winners of the evening's competition were Preyasi Kumar, Prithvi Setty, and Lindsay Wong (COM M2s), who mesmerized the audience with their rendition of "When You Believe" by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, showcasing their impressive vocal harmonies and piano skills.

Honorable Mentions

In second place was Kenneth Thai (COM M1), whose soulful vocals and guitar skills delivered a moving performance of "Gary's Song." Luke Cho (COM M2) also impressed the crowd with his heartfelt rendition of "Good Love is on the Way" by John Mayer, accompanied by his vocals and guitar.

Other notable performers included Adam Ali (COM M1), who brought a touch of jazz with his saxophone performance of "Autumn Leaves." The faculty also joined in the festivities, with Dr. Cusick and Victoria Cusick delivering a memorable performance on vocals and guitar, playing "Layla" by Eric Clapton and "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles.

Dr. Puglisi (COM Faculty) added an extra element of surprise with a captivating magic show, leaving the audience in awe. Dr. Sheffield and Dr. Culler (COM Faculty) offered a dramatic performance of "One for my Baby, One for the Road," drawing heartfelt applause for their emotive delivery.

A Wide Range of Talent

Other performances included Andrew Doan (COM M2), who captivated the crowd with his clarinet performance of "Unravel." Bethany Joy (COM M2) also delivered a powerful vocal performance, singing "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele.

A lively dance performance by Cindy Luo, Richard Ma, and Stephanie Zhang (COM M2s) showcased the rhythm and energy of CNUCOM’s student body. The event concluded with a show-stopping dance routine by the CNUCOM Dance SIG, featuring Ritu Gaikwad, Deeksha Panuganti, Sonal Sachdeva, Vanshika Goyal, Stephanie Zhang, Snighda Uppu, Dhiraj Ramireddy, and Marcus Carrillo. Their dynamic choreography and synchronized moves brought the house down and closed the night on an energetic high.

Community and Charity in Harmony

The CNU Talent Show was more than just a night of incredible performances—it was a celebration of the diverse skills and talents within the CNUCOM community. From the students to the faculty, everyone had a chance to contribute to the event's success. Beyond entertainment, the event highlighted the importance of coming together for a common cause, with funds raised going toward the Medball fund, benefiting future CNUCOM students and initiatives.

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Diversity in Healthcare Event

Student moderators: Riley Danna, Ashley Ko, Fola Okeyemi, Edith Kamara

Panelists: Dr. Dana Weisshaar, Dr. Jennifer Gullo, Dr. Carol Conrad-Forrest

November 6th, 2024

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Shehzaib Raees Represents the College of Medicine at the American College of Surgeons

October 18, 2024

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COM In the News

October, 2024

We are excited to announce hat the following are the students who have an accepted presentation to the prestigious American College of Surgery Annual Meeting in San Francisco this month.

• Lauren Burney - Reducing Pain after Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery through Active Gas Removal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (8 min)
• Muzammil Akhtar - A Shorter Interval between Preoperative Corticosteroid Injections and Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Increases the Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection and Revision Surgery: A Systematic Review (8 min)
• Muzammil Akhtar - Outcomes of Early versus Delayed Manipulation under Anesthesia for Stiffness Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (3 min)
• Shehzaib Raaes - Effects of Postoperative Music Therapy on Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (3 min)
• Manya Bali - Improving Trauma Resource Management: An Analysis of US Public Mass Shooting Data from 2014 - 2023 (3 min)
• Bhagvat Maheta - How To Match? Impact of Quantitative Variables on Residency Competitiveness: A Comprehensive 9 Year Retrospective Cohort Analysis (3 min)
• Daniel Razick -The Lateral Location of the Quadriceps Tendon Does Not Indicate Extensor Mechanism Malalignment in Kinematically Aligned TKA, as it Does Not Predict Patient-Reported Outcome Scores (3 min)
• Daniel Razick - Outcomes of Surgical versus Non-Surgical Treatments of Iliopsoas Impingement after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (3 min)

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Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS Joins California Northstate University as the Dean of the College of Medicine

May 1, 2023

California Northstate University is excited to announce that Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS is the new Dean of the College of Medicine and Vice President of Medical Affairs. Dr. Isaacs is an industry leader, having been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for several years. As the chief academic officer of the College of Medicine, Dr. Isaacs will utilize his extraordinary leadership experience to enhance the academic, cultural, and clinical environments of California Northstate University. Dr. Isaacs will start on June 1, 2023, and his duties will also include a professorship within the College.

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Diversity in Medicine Summer Camp 2023

April 20, 2023

Join CNU College of Medicine for a week long camp for college undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Students will have a glimpse into the first year of medical school at CNUCOM by progressing through one content block per day of our systems based curriculum, including hands on labs and medical skills activities. [Read More]

Register | Flyer

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California Northstate University Receives Final Approval on North Natomas Medical Center Campus

February 16, 2022

ELK GROVE, CA – California Northstate University (CNU) is proud to announce that it has received final approval on its proposed North Natomas Medical Center Campus by the Sacramento City Council during last night’s meeting.

CNU’s proposed Medical Center Campus at Innovation Park is a new development project headed by the Sacramento Kings organization that will transform 35 acres of the 170-acre former Sleep Train Arena in North Natomas into a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, health and educational uses. [Read More]

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Congratulations to Elaine Cheung, CNU College of Medicine class of 2024

November 7, 2021

Congratulations to Elaine Cheung, CNU College of Medicine class of 2024, for being awarded the best medical student research oral presentation at the annual Chinese American Medical Society (CAMS) 2021 Scientific Conference held on November 7, 2021. Her presentation was titled: “Socio-ecological factors of psychological distress among Asian American young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States”. [Read More]

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CNU Alum Earns Good Catch Award

October 25, 2021

The Patient Safety Good Catch of the week at St. Joseph’s Medical Center goes to our first year Emergency Medicine Resident, Dr. Ethan Luong! This is a story about paying attention to detail and having a questioning attitude. [Read More]

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Diversity in Medicine Summer Camp Update

July, 2021

The 2021 CNUCOM Diversity in Medicine Camp held from July 12th to the 16th brought together a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of twenty-six undergraduate students from Sacramento State University and other surrounding colleges in Northern California and the Los Angeles area. Our objective was to create a learning environment that fostered students’ sense of belonging in the medical profession regardless of racial, ethnic, or gender background and to provide firsthand exposure to medical school...[Read More]

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Diversity in Medicine Summer Camp

July, 2021

A week long camp for college undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Students will gain a glimpse of the first year of medical school at CNU College of Medicine by going through one content block per day of our systems based curriculum, including hands on labs and medical skills activities.

Register | Flyer | Detailed Instructions

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CNU Hospital in Sacramento ‘A hub of innovation’

June 28, 2021

SACRAMENTO (sacbee.com) – New use for Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena site revealed: ‘A hub of innovation’

The Sacramento Kings and a local medical group announced Wednesday they have reached a deal to build a hospital and medical complex on the former Sleep Train Arena site in North Natomas.

Kings officials said they will turn over 35 acres of land, including the arena, to the locally based California Northstate University group to construct a major teaching hospital, trauma center and medical school that could bring up to 3,000 jobs as well as housing to the now unused site.

The level 2 trauma center would be 10 to 11 stories tall, and would start with 250 rooms, ultimately expanding to 400, officials said. It would include a helipad. The initial phase of the project could be built in about three and one-half years, university officials said.

[Read More]

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Congratulations to our COM Class of 2021 for their outstanding match results (98.9% overall match rate)!

March, 2021

CNU COM students have matched in very competitive specialties such as Orthopedic Surgery, Dermatology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Diagnostic Radiology, Otolaryngology and surgery.

Many of our students have matched in well-known and very highly regarded residency programs... [Read More]

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ABC 10: Elk Grove college designated as public vaccination site

January 12, 2021

California Northstate University [CNU] announced its Elk Grove campus has been designated as one of the primary sites for COVID-19 vaccination for the public in the Sacramento region. The clinic will open to the public through appointment if you fall into Phase 1A on Jan. 15...

...selected because “its pharmacy students and interns are trained and certified to administer vaccines. It also has ultra-low temperature storage freezers required to preserve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine safely before use.”... [Read More]

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California Northstate University Announces New Scholarship To Recognize Academic Excellence and Diversity

November 23, 2020

…California Northstate University (CNU) announced that it has established the President Academic and Diversity Scholarship, in a partnership between the CNU President’s Office and Duruisseau Foundation, a nonprofit established by Dr. Shelton Duruisseau, CEO of Quantum Care Place, Inc., a senior care and housing company, and former Vice President for Diversity & Community Engagement at the UC Davis Health System… [Read More]

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Elk Grove Tribune: California Northstate University College of Medicine Awarded NIH Grant To Support Cardiovascular Research

October 6, 2020

…Dr. Arpita K Vyas, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology and Assistant Dean for Research at the College of Medicine, has received a four-year, $2.5-million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

As principal investigator, Dr. Vyas will lead and establish multi-institutional cardiovascular research studies with three collaborating universities–the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Davis. The R01 research project grant titled Gestational Hyperandrogenism in Cardiovascular Programming (2020-2024) will address the mechanisms underlying sex-specific cardiovascular dysfunction in the offspring, secondary to excess androgens exposure prenatally. The project will advance the field of prenatal programming of the cardiovascular system… [Read More]

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Elk Grove Tribune: CNU Brings Diversity & Inclusion To Healthcare With Youth Focused Summer Camp

July 29, 2020

“Diversity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords for Elk Grove’s California Northstate University (CNU) College of Medicine.

The four-year MD program whose mission is to “Advance the Art and Science of Medicine through Education, Service, Scholarship, and Social Accountability” put words into action this week as it kicked off its “Diversity in Medicine Camp.” In partnership with Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) and tech giant Intel Corporation, the youth focused summer camp is CNU’s most recent effort to bring more minorities into the field of healthcare…” [Read More]

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Elk Grove Tribune: CNU College of Medicine Donates Protective Medical Supplies

May 8, 2020

“…15,500 surgical masks, 100 goggles, 100 face shields, and gel sanitizers have been given to senior care facilities, the Elk Grove Food Bank, and Methodist Hospital of Sacramento. 7,500 of the masks are for senior care and residential facilities in Elk Grove, and 4,000 each will go to Methodist Hospital and Elk Grove Food Bank. The ceremony and pick up of the materials also observed social distancing practices…” [Read More]"