Eloise Thompson

Eloise Thompson was born in Fresno, CA January 11, 1951 as the 4th of 12 children of Willie and Esther Thompson. She grew up in and attended Selma Unified schools. She attended Reedley College, San Francisco State University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from University of California at Santa Barbara. Eloise worked for the University of California for 31 years, beginning her distinguished career in 1985, at UC Santa Barbara in the Department of Physics. Eloise returned to her beloved San Joaquin Valley to work for UCSF Fresno as a residency coordinator for the Internal Medicine residency training program. She arrived during challenging times in the residency. Her wisdom to know what was needed during this difficult time and passion for always doing the right thing and putting the program ahead of her own self-interest served as a bridge to preserve the program until new program leadership arrived in 2002. Her work during and subsequent to that time helped to ensure the program’s survival, then success. Eloise’s talent, dedication, and instincts were instrumental in the successful recruiting efforts for the internal medicine residency program, which has had a significant impact on the valley, with over half the physicians trained in the program staying in the valley to practice medicine after graduation. Her support of the residents was one of the best aspects of the residency program. She was the “mom” for a whole generation of medical residents, who valued her nonjudgmental listening and compassion.

Upon Eloise’s retirement in March, 2016, due to a serious health issue, the Eloise Thompson Internal Medicine Intern of the Year Award at UCSF Fresno was created to honor her extraordinary contributions to the internal medicine residency program. It recognizes annually an outstanding intern in the Department of Medicine. She touched hundreds of lives during her time at UCSF Fresno. Eloise's spirit went home to be with Our Heavenly Father on December 15, 2016 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.