Vanessa Mora Molina, originally from Fowler, a small farming town in California’s San Joaquin Valley, experienced long wait times for basic medical care as a child. Despite these challenges, she will graduate with her M.D. this June from one of UC’s six medical schools, along with over 700 other medical students. The majority of these new doctors, 73%, will remain in California for their residency training.
Many of these physicians, including Mora, have completed specialized training through the UC PRIME program. This program equips students to provide care to underserved populations throughout California and aims to address the issue of “health care deserts.” These deserts lack access to appropriate medical care and often suffer from a lack of culturally competent doctors who can effectively communicate with patients.
Dr. Katherine Flores, a family medicine physician who supervised Mora in a Fresno clinic, emphasizes the importance of having doctors who understand the communities they serve. She believes that simply having more doctors is not enough; it is crucial to have physicians who comprehend the culture, challenges, and norms of the community in order to provide effective care.
The UC PRIME program and the commitment of these new doctors to serving underserved populations indicate a positive shift in the healthcare landscape in California. By training medical professionals who are culturally aware and dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities, UC is making strides in ensuring that all individuals have access to quality care.