Campus News
A new medical program for the Central Coast
Thanks to the leadership of state Sen. John Laird and the support of our state partners, we’ve secured $1.5 million in state funding to help establish the UC Programs in Medical Education Central Coast, or PRIME Central Coast.
Dear Campus Community,
I’m thrilled to share that UC Santa Cruz is partnering with UC Davis to launch a new medical program, with its first cohort of students set to begin in 2027.
Thanks to the leadership of state Sen. John Laird and the support of our state partners, we’ve secured $1.5 million in state funding to help establish the UC Programs in Medical Education Central Coast, or PRIME Central Coast.
This UCSC-UCD collaboration is part of the larger UC PRIME initiative, which since 2004 has trained physicians to serve California’s underserved communities. PRIME enhances standard medical education with specialized training that prepares students to work in areas where care is most urgently needed, and it encourages students from those communities to become doctors themselves.
As I’ve shared before, UC Santa Cruz is committed to addressing the severe shortage of primary care physicians across the Central Coast. We’re already playing a role:
- Our cutting-edge research in genomics and biomedical science is helping shape the future of medicine.
- Our Global and Community Health undergraduate major, now entering its fourth year, has already attracted an incredible 500 students.
- Our Pre-med Postbaccalaureate program, launched last year in partnership with UCSC Extension, is preparing college graduates to strengthen their medical school applications. The inaugural cohort included 14 students.
This new partnership is a big step forward. The UC system is home to many of the world’s top medical schools, and UC leaders understand what it takes to launch and sustain exceptional medical education. UC Riverside and UC Merced both began their medical journeys through collaborations with other UC campuses, just as we are doing now.
PRIME Central Coast represents UC Santa Cruz’s deep commitment to meeting the health care needs of our region. We will continue looking for new ways to leverage our strengths and expand our impact — here on the Central Coast, across California, and beyond.
Sincerely,
Cindy
Cynthia Larive
Chancellor