Honoring a Legacy of Service: The Dr. Faustino Bernadett, Sr. M.D. Scholarship Fund

Dr. Faustino Bernadett M.D.

At the heart of every great legacy is a commitment to making life better for others. The Faustino Bernadett, Sr. M.D. Scholarship Fund, created by Tino Bernadett in honor of his father, Dr. Faustino Bernadett, Sr., continues to uphold that commitment by investing in the education of future healthcare professionals, particularly Spanish-speaking medical students who want to serve their families and communities with love, commitment, and humility through a life of meaningful service to others.

Born from a desire to give back and to celebrate the life and values of Dr. Bernadett Sr., this scholarship is more than financial support, it’s a bridge to opportunity for students who reflect his deep-rooted passion for service, community, and medicine.

One student’s recent message to Faustino Bernadett is a moving testament to how the scholarship is changing lives and honoring its mission:

Dear Dr. Tino Bernadett,

“I am deeply honored and grateful for the generous support you provided through the Dr. Faustino Bernadett Sr. Scholarship. As a non-traditional, first-generation Latina and the first in my family to pursue a doctoral degree, scholarships like this make it possible for me to finance my education and pursue my dream of being a doctor in service of medically underserved communities like the one I grew up in.

As a future primary care provider, the financial support that comes from receiving this scholarship enables me to shift my focus from the financial burden that comes with paying for medical school to focusing on working towards my mission of serving Latine medically underserved communities and addressing health inequities. Thank you for investing in my education and future. I am committed to using this opportunity to pay it forward and make a positive difference in the lives of my patients and the communities I serve.”

This message is a meaningful reminder of how one act of generosity can make a lasting difference. For this student, and others like them, the scholarship offers not only financial support but also encouragement and confidence to keep moving forward on a path that hasn’t always been easy to access.

The Faustino Bernadett, Sr. M.D. Scholarship Fund continues to create opportunities for students who want to make a difference, especially in communities where compassionate, culturally aware care is needed most. It’s a reflection of Dr. Bernadett Sr.’s legacy, not just in name, but in the continued impact of those it supports.

About Dr. Faustino Bernadett, Sr., M.D.

Dr. Faustino Bernadett, Sr., M.D. was a devoted physician, teacher, and humanitarian whose life was rooted in service. The son of Mexican immigrants from Chihuahua, he was born in Michigan and eventually settled in Chico, California, where he became the town’s only Spanish-speaking family doctor. Known for treating patients regardless of their ability to pay, he was often repaid with tamales, chili, or chickens—gestures he valued as deeply as any check.

Beyond his practice, Dr. Bernadett volunteered in Vietnam, caring for the Montagnard people during the war, and for 14 years he made annual trips to a remote village in Mexico, where people traveled miles just to see him. His son Faustino "Tino" Bernadett, inspired by accompanying him on one of these trips, followed his path into medicine.

Dr. Bernadett also served as a preceptor at UC Davis and volunteered at Clinica Tepati, flying his own small plane to balance work and family. His life was cut short in a plane crash during one of these trips, but his legacy lives on, in the communities he served and through the scholarship that honors his name.

To learn more about the scholarship and the legacy behind it, visit: https://faustinobernadettsrmd.com/scholarship