UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue VII

Support Medical Education in the San Joaquin Valley

OPINION

By Dr. Margo Vener Health care in California’s San Joaquin Valley is in critical need. The region has disproportionately fewer physicians than the rest of the state, and this barrier prevents patients, families and communities from accessing high-quality care to address medical needs and stay healthy. Yet the Valley also benefits from the richness of exceptionally dedicated, talented and motivated young people eager to become physicians and serve their communities. One solution to these challenges is to attract more young people to the medical field — promising scholars motivated to practice professionally right here. UC Merced is leading the way in educating new physicians “from the Valley and for the Valley.” Providing outstanding health care requires a team, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, dentists, public health researchers and psychologists. UC Merced programs are helping develop a true health professions pipeline. Located at UC Merced, San Joaquin Valley PRIME+, in partnership with UCSF and UCSF Fresno, guides selected Valley high school students from earning their bachelor’s degrees through medical school to attain their medical degrees.

UC Merced’s Health Scholars program provides experiential learning and peer support for students interested in health careers such as

medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dental school, public health and more. Members of our community often ask how they can offer support. Financial aid and scholarships can significantly influence a prospective student’s evaluation of where to start their medical education. Financial assistance lowers barriers to attending UC Merced. Once the students are in college, financial security can help them focus on their studies. Students need co-curricular experiences such as research, community engagement and experiential learning in clinical settings to successfully apply to health professional schools. While these requirements are a lot for anyone, UC Merced students from low-income backgrounds may have competing demands, such as needing to earn money for tuition or family, pressure to return home to support or translate for non-English-speaking families and helping families navigate stressors such as immigration issues. Scholarships allow the university to attract and retain bright, motivated students who can become tomorrow’s health care leaders.

If you can support scholarships for medical students, you are helping support the future health of the Valley. If you work in the medical field, you can help students by allowing them to shadow you at your practice. Experiencing health care in real-world settings gives their studies context and opens a window to their professional future. You can also come to UC Merced to present to students about your practice, specialty or team. The Valley is a special place, rich in diversity and opportunity. With SJV PRIME+ and Health Scholars, UC Merced is tapping into the vast potential of young scholars from the region and pointing the way to a future filled with physicians and health professionals who keenly understand what their patients need. Learn more about health-related programs and how you can support them and the Valley’s healthy future at meded.ucmerced.edu/get-involved. Dr. Margo Vener is the director of the UC Merced Department of Medical Education and a family practice physician.

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