The California Medicine Scholars Program announced Friday it will expand into Los Angeles with two regional hubs designed to help students pursue careers in medicine.
The Los Angeles hubs will be led by the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. A third hub will launch in the Bay Area, led by Chabot College.
According to the program, the regional hubs connect California community colleges, four-year universities, medical schools, community health centers and community-based organizations to provide students with academic advising, mentorship, clinical exposure, internships, volunteer opportunities and other experiences designed to prepare them for medical school.
“By working with community colleges across the region and investing in students early, the David Geffen School of Medicine is helping build a physician workforce that trains, practices and remains in the California communities that need it most,” Jennifer Lucero, associate dean at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, said in a statement.
Demand for primary care physicians is expected to increase in the coming years as more than two-thirds of California counties experience low physician supply and high rates of preventable hospitalizations, officials said. The hubs are part of an effort to address the projected trends.
Keosha Partlow, vice provost of student affairs at Charles R. Drew University and interim associate dean of student affairs for its College of Medicine, said the initiative aligns with the university’s mission of improving health care access in South Los Angeles.
“CDU was founded sixty years ago because South Los Angeles deserved better access to healthcare and education,” Partlow said. “The CMSP is an example of how we continue to carry that legacy forward through our commitment to ensuring that students who grow up in our communities have a clear, supported and real pathway to becoming the physicians their communities need most.”
Established in 2022, the California Medicine Scholars Program currently serves approximately 800 students through four existing regional hubs led by the UC Riverside School of Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine and the UCSF Fresno Regional Campus, officials said.
With the expansion, the program will include seven regional hubs serving 56 California community colleges, 23 four-year universities and medical schools, and 42 community-based health organizations.
It’s exciting to see the California Medicine Scholars Program expanding to Los Angeles! The partnership between UCLA and Charles R. Drew University will surely provide valuable opportunities for aspiring medical professionals in the area. this resource
It’s wonderful to hear that the California Medicine Scholars Program is launching regional hubs in Los Angeles! Connecting community colleges with medical schools like UCLA and Charles R. Drew University can really transform the landscape for students aiming for careers in medicine. This initiative is definitely a step forward in making medical education more accessible. this one