UC Merced Magazine | Volume XVIII, Issue IV

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz met with leaders from UCSF Fresno and UCSF, including UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, as part of the planning phases for the new medical education pathway for UC Merced students.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR O ne of the main reasons UC Merced was located here is to improve the lives of Central Valley residents. When you know more about the health-related research and programs our faculty members and students are participating in, you will see us ful lling that mission. It can take time for the fruits of research to be realized, but this issue’s cover story demonstrates that sometimes research takes immediate — and lifesaving — e ect. From health equity and better understanding the needs of families with chronically ill children to Valley fever, diabetes and HIV prevention, our researchers are touching countless lives while also training the next generations of health care professionals. We also have a critically important new program in medical education: the SJV PRIME+ B.S. to M.D. pathway, through which students can prepare to attend medical school a er earning their bachelor of science degrees. You likely remember our participation in SJV PRIME, in which our students could attend a tailored track at UCSF’s medical school speci cally designed to address the physician shortage in the Valley. SJV PRIME was designed for medical students who are committed to ensuring high-quality, culturally appropriate, and accessible medical care to improve health for individuals and communities in the Valley. e PRIME+ pathway is still a partnership between UC Merced, UCSF Fresno and UCSF, and still has the same goals, but a new roster of classes will ful ll more pre-med requirements. Applicants to this competitive program must demonstrate deep ties to the Valley and an intent to practice in the region. We are working toward constructing a new medical education building, but students at UC Merced can already begin their journeys toward becoming doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants and other health care providers right here at home. Fiat Lux, Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D. Chancellor

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