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UC-Davis School of Medicine

Domains: Pathways, Admissions & Graduation

The UC Davis School of Medicine demonstrates a transformative approach to healthcare education through comprehensive programs that advance diversity and equity in medicine. Under the leadership of the Office of Student and Resident Diversity, the school implements multifaceted strategies to create “a physician workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our nation and our world.”

At the heart of this mission are innovative pathway programs that begin as early as K-12 education. The Health Equity Academy offers a free “mini medical school” for socioeconomically disadvantaged high school students, while partnerships with community colleges and regional universities create structured pathways through programs like AvenueM. The Huwighurruk program provides a culturally-focused pathway specifically for American Indian/Alaska Native students, while Prep Médico, developed in partnership with The Permanente Medical Group, aims to increase Latino physician representation.

The school’s commitment extends beyond recruitment to comprehensive support systems. The ACE-PC program, launched in 2014 with Kaiser Permanente, offers an accelerated three-year medical school track focused on primary care, placing students in clinical settings from their first week. The program has successfully attracted diverse candidates, with over 60% coming from communities underrepresented in medicine.

The results speak to the effectiveness of these initiatives. Despite California’s ban on affirmative action, UC Davis has become the country’s fourth most diverse medical school in 2024. The Class of 2026 exemplifies this achievement with 14% Black, 30% Hispanic, and 3% American Indian/Alaska Native students. Additionally, 42% are first-generation college students, 84% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and the class includes DACA recipients.

This success stems from the school’s holistic admissions process that emphasizes economic factors and community ties rather than traditional metrics, supported by $12 million annually in scholarships. Through this comprehensive approach, UC Davis demonstrates that meaningful transformation in medical education requires both innovative programs and significant financial investment. Their success provides a model for other institutions seeking to advance diversity and equity in healthcare education while working within legal constraints.

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“One of the ways we support residents is funding support for conferences related to health equity, diversity and inclusion. We want to bridge the gap in funding so that the goals of reducing health disparities and supporting our underserved communities are really funded. We want to really put the money where our mouth is."

Publications

Table 4. Summary of Strategies for Health Professional Admission Practices.

Nguyen, M., Dent, R., Fancher, T. L., Soriano, A. J., Green, C. K., & Henderson, M. C. (2023). Revolutionizing Health Professions Admissions to Achieve an Inclusive Workforce. The Annals of Family Medicine. (Suppl 2) S75-S81; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2922 

Henderson M. C., Fancher T. L., & Murin, S. (2023).  Holistic Admissions at UC Davis—Journey Toward Equity. JAMA. 330(11):1037–1038. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.15872

Case report developed by Sadiyah Anderson

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