First-year Master of Public Health student Marcos Hernandez has seen firsthand the profound impact health care providers can have on individuals and communities. Growing up, he watched family members struggle with preventable chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and substance abuse – experiences that ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in public health.
“Watching my family deal with their health complications made me really passionate about serving other families and my community,” Hernandez said. “I want to be in a position to help others so that they don’t have to go through the same kind of pain that my family dealt with.”
Hernandez was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, before his father accepted a job offer in Oakland. His family relocated there, where Hernandez completed high school, before enrolling at Fresno State. He was drawn to the university for its affordability and its public health program.
New to the Central Valley, Hernandez said he quickly found a community at Fresno State, citing the strong student support services he received. As a first-generation college student, this support was foundational to him.
Although the university provided many opportunities for Hernandez to succeed, he still needed additional assistance. He applied for scholarships on campus, including the United Health Center’s Dr. Robert Allen Shankerman Memorial Scholarship, which provided $5,000 to Hernandez during the last year of his bachelor’s program.
The scholarship honors the former chief medical officer for United Health Centers who died in September 2020 of COVID-related complications. Known for his compassionate spirit and dedication to underserved regions, Shankerman was committed to training and educating future health care providers and physicians.
Available to students pursuing careers in the medical and health care fields, the scholarship opened doors for Hernandez, who aspires to continue his work in health policy. Fresno State will be raising funds to support students like Hernandez during its annual, 24-hour online Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 18.
“I didn’t have to worry about how I was going to pay for school or my books and course materials,” Hernandez said. “I even used the scholarship money for gas to get to my internships and for groceries. Having that support from United Health Centers really helped push me to pursue my dreams further. It really shows they want us to succeed no matter what, and because of them, I was able to graduate debt-free.”
After Hernandez obtained his bachelor’s degree in health science, with an option in health administration, in May 2025, he returned to Fresno State for the Master of Public Health program.
“The best decision was to stay at Fresno State, where I’ve already built great relationships with faculty and interned for many local community-based organizations,” Hernandez said. “I also now have a good understanding of the public health atmosphere here in the Central Valley, and I hope to master my skills to benefit the community.”
After beginning the graduate program, Hernandez joined the Master of Public Health Advisory Board, serving as a graduate student voice among a board of alumni, faculty and other students. The board works collaboratively and provides consultation on curriculum within the Master of Public Health program and helps students become career-ready.
“Marcos is an exceptionally engaged student, whose intellectual curiosity sets him apart,” said Dr. Tanisha Garcia, an associate professor and director of the Master of Public Health program. “His leadership and dedication to health equity will position him for tremendous success in the public health profession going forward.”
Hernandez is also completing his internship with the Center for Healthy Communities Division within the California Department of Public Health, where he is tasked with improving psychological safety within the work environment. As he continues his studies and internships, Hernandez remains grateful for the support he received along the way.
“I always tell people that the hardest part about college is not the course work, but paying for it,” Hernandez said. “As long as you remove that barrier, you’re open to succeed. Having that financial support and coming to Fresno State was the best decision I ever made. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Fresno State’s annual 24-hour, online Day of Giving will be Wednesday, March 18. The College of Health and Human Services relies on private financial support, such as funds raised from Day of Giving, to support scholarships for students. For questions about how to support health and human services students, contact Jeff Rickels at rickelsjeff@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.3136.