UCSF Fresno therapy dog alleviates stress for medical students | EdSource
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A therapy dog at UCSF Fresno is offering comfort and relief for students in the medical education program, ABC 30 reported.
Jillian, a therapy K-9, has visited the campus twice a week, and attended monthly wellness events since joining the campus earlier this year through a grant.
She is now among the therapy dogs used on college campuses, such as Sacramento State, Cal State Long Beach and UC Berkeley, as well as in K-12 school districts. Clovis Unified School District has used a therapy dog for several years and brings additional dogs on campus during finals week to alleviate stress.
Therapy dogs work with the Selma Unified School District’s mental health team to provide social and emotional learning lessons, respond to crises and provide individual therapy sessions. The dogs have an unmatched “calming” presence, especially when students are upset, sad or anxious, students told EdSource. They’ve played a key role in the district’s push to destigmatize mental health issues and provide services.
During her visits to UCSF Fresno, Jillian draws students and staff away from their hectic routines, ABC 30 reported.
Campus leaders and students said Jillian’s presence — including when she comes around for pets and belly rubs — has helped students dealing with the academic pressures of training to become physicians.
Jose Barral Sanchez, vice dean at UCSF Fresno, told ABC 30, “Our students find that when they’re preparing for their exams or their different activities, she helps a lot with stress, you know, allowing them to take their mind off their worries.”
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News Brief
Thursday, May 21, 2026 — 1:58 pm
May 21, 2026
A therapy dog at UCSF Fresno is offering comfort and relief for students in the medical education program, ABC 30 reported.
Jillian, a therapy K-9, has visited the campus twice a week, and attended monthly wellness events since joining the campus earlier this year through a grant.
She is now among the therapy dogs used on college campuses, such as Sacramento State, Cal State Long Beach and UC Berkeley, as well as in K-12 school districts. Clovis Unified School District has used a therapy dog for several years and brings additional dogs on campus during finals week to alleviate stress.
Therapy dogs work with the Selma Unified School District’s mental health team to provide social and emotional learning lessons, respond to crises and provide individual therapy sessions. The dogs have an unmatched “calming” presence, especially when students are upset, sad or anxious, students told EdSource. They’ve played a key role in the district’s push to destigmatize mental health issues and provide services.
During her visits to UCSF Fresno, Jillian draws students and staff away from their hectic routines, ABC 30 reported.
Campus leaders and students said Jillian’s presence — including when she comes around for pets and belly rubs — has helped students dealing with the academic pressures of training to become physicians.
Jose Barral Sanchez, vice dean at UCSF Fresno, told ABC 30, “Our students find that when they’re preparing for their exams or their different activities, she helps a lot with stress, you know, allowing them to take their mind off their worries.”
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