The Crankstart Foundation has donated $14 million to UC San Francisco (UCSF) to establish a workforce development program aimed at training approximately 2,000 San Francisco residents over the next five years. This significant investment will help prepare individuals for careers in healthcare, including roles such as medical practice coordinators, medical assistants, and radiology technologists.
The initiative, known as the UCSF Career Pathways program, is designed to enhance career opportunities for people from underinvested communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will target individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or transitional-aged youth between 18 and 24. UCSF employees seeking career advancement will also benefit from the program.
UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood expressed his gratitude, stating, “This historic investment will connect our educational resources and employment opportunities to those who might not otherwise have access. We aim to create a future where learning, growth, and health are accessible to everyone in our community.”
The funding will support partnerships with local nonprofits, including the Bay Area Medical Academy, Jewish Vocational Services, YMCA-Bayview, Young Community Developers, City College of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Unified School District. These partners will provide training to fill critical healthcare roles and help address workforce shortages.
Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible for interviews for positions at UCSF Health clinics and hospitals, as well as roles in UCSF research studies. UCSF Health CEO Suresh Gunasekaran highlighted the program’s benefits, stating, “Creating new pathways to address healthcare shortages helps us provide more care to patients. We’re proud to support our community and workforce in advancing their careers.”
The program will be free for all participants, including current UCSF staff. Jeffrey Chiu, UCSF’s vice president and assistant vice chancellor of Human Resources, noted, “This initiative is designed to bring new talent into health professions and support our existing workforce in advancing their careers. We’re committed to fostering growth from both outside and within our organization.”
The program will offer coursework, hands-on clinical training, and opportunities to shadow UCSF professionals. For instance, radiology technologists can enter an 18-month training program after completing preparatory classes at community college, potentially qualifying them for entry-level positions with salaries exceeding $100,000 a year.
The UCSF Career Pathways initiative will also provide early career exploration for students at the new SFUSD Mission Bay Linked Learning Hub at UCSF. Additional support will come from UCSF’s Center for Science, Education and Outreach, Department of Radiology, and Human Resources.
Missy Narula, CEO of Crankstart, emphasized the program’s impact, saying, “This initiative will build a strong, connected pathway into quality careers for community members who have historically had less access to these jobs.”
UCSF plans to seek additional philanthropy to expand the program’s reach. The Crankstart Foundation’s gift will cover three-fourths of the program’s development costs, with UCSF and Crankstart hopeful that other donors will also contribute to this important effort.
