Health
UC Santa Cruz partners with UC Davis to launch new Central Coast medical program
The establishment of the UC Programs in Medical Education Central Coast (PRIME Central Coast), made possible by $1.5 million in new seed funding from the state, aims to enroll an inaugural cohort of medical students on the Central Coast by fall 2027
PRIME Central Coast builds on several UC Santa Cruz programs designed to help address California’s growing healthcare crisis and reflects the campus’s ever-expanding commitment to supporting the needs of the Central Coast.
UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis are partnering to launch a new program that will train future physicians deeply committed to the health and well-being of Central Coast communities and increase access to care.
Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) was responsible for including $1.5 million in the state budget for the two campuses to establish the UC Programs in Medical Education Central Coast (PRIME Central Coast). The new program, which will complement existing UC PRIME programs across the state, aims to accept applications in early 2026 and enroll its inaugural cohort of students in 2027.
“UC Santa Cruz is deeply committed to meeting the health care needs of the Central Coast, and this is an important step in our efforts,” Chancellor Cynthia Larive said. “We are grateful for the financial support of the legislature and governor, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and especially appreciate the advocacy and vision of Senator John Laird. We are also thankful to the UC Davis School of Medicine for their support and partnership to establish a medical school pathway with our campus. PRIME Central Coast will be a good complement to UC Davis Rural-PRIME and will focus on training the future physicians so needed in our region.”
The new effort is part of the UC Programs in Medical Education (UC PRIME). This successful and unique medical school program supplements standard training with an additional curriculum tailored to meet the needs of California’s communities that lack sufficient access to health care. PRIME graduates go on to work in these medically underserved regions, expanding health care services with an increased understanding of the regional needs.
UC Santa Cruz students interested in PRIME Central Coast will apply to the UC Davis medical school in Sacramento. As with other students, their first half of medical school will focus on curriculum and their second half on patient care experience. Unlike traditional students, PRIME students will frequently return to the Central Coast for their clinical rotations under the supervision of physicians at area hospitals and clinics. Studies show that more than half of physicians practice within a 100-mile radius of where they trained in residency, highlighting the need to expand clinical training opportunities in areas of need. PRIME Central Coast aims to cultivate a physician workforce that is from the Central Coast, trained in the Central Coast, and stays in the Central Coast, addressing health disparities in the region.
“I’m proud to have secured funding to expand healthcare access across our region,” said Senator John Laird. “The PRIME Central Coast partnership between UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz marks a major step forward in preparing the next generation of doctors to serve the Central Coast — and lays a strong foundation for a future medical school in our community.”
“Establishing PRIME Central Coast is an important investment in the future healthcare access on the Central Coast,” said Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz). “Together, UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis are creating a pipeline for training the next generation of physicians who understand the unique challenges facing our rural and underserved communities. This is not just about medical education—it’s about building a healthier, more equitable future for our residents.”
UC PRIME is helping to address a growing health care crisis in California. By 2030, the state will have 11.5 percent fewer physicians than needed, with the Central Coast and Central Valley regions facing an even more severe 18.7 percent shortfall in primary care doctors—the worst gap in the state. Currently, 60 percent of Californians who pursue medical education must leave the state for their training. PRIME Central Coast will help retain more of the state’s talent by developing medical training opportunities in communities where doctors are most needed.
“We are proud to partner with UC Santa Cruz to expand the reach of the UC Davis School of Medicine and address the physician shortage in California’s Central Coast,” said Tonya Fancher, MD, MPH, the associate dean for Workforce Innovation and Education Quality at the UC Davis School of Medicine. “By training students in the communities they aim to serve, PRIME Central Coast will help ensure a future workforce of physicians who are not only highly skilled, but also deeply connected to the region’s unique health care needs.”
PRIME Central Coast builds on several UC Santa Cruz programs designed to help address California’s growing healthcare crisis and reflects the campus’s ever-expanding commitment to supporting the needs of the Central Coast.
UC Santa Cruz launched its highly successful undergraduate major in Global and Community Health in 2022, offering tracks for both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The BA is focused on training students to address the social determinants of health and fostering skills that enable them to serve as future leaders in health care, health policy, public health, and community organizing. The BS degree offers two concentration options—biomedical or public and community health—that prepare students for patient-care careers or roles in health administration, public health, and advocacy. Currently, more than 500 students have declared Global and Community Health as their major.
In 2024, UC Santa Cruz launched a Pre-Med Postbaccalaureate Program, which is designed to support students by enhancing their academic skills, guiding their professional goals, and strengthening their medical school application. The first cohort of students has received rigorous science coursework, comprehensive MCAT preparation, and professional development through structured in-person sessions at the MBEST Center in Marina. Roughly half of the students are expected to apply for medical school in spring 2026.
With its multi-prong strategy for educating and training health professionals, UC Santa Cruz is building a pipeline of talented and compassionate physicians and medical leaders who are committed to serving California’s Central Coast communities. UCSC is also part of the Central Coast K-16 Collaborative, which aims to help students from historically marginalized school districts achieve careers that pay a family-sustaining wage, and health care careers are a major focus of that effort.
“PRIME Central Coast is the next step in our efforts to identify and support talented local students with a commitment to the health of their communities,” said Grant Hartzog, a co-director of Global and Community Health. “We know that this grow-your-own strategy is our best chance to address the shortage of health care providers on the Central Coast. We are excited for our partnership with the UC Davis School of Medicine and grateful for the support of our local medical community.”