How UC Davis Became One of the Most Diverse Medical Schools in the Country
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THE CHCF WEEKLY
March 14, 2023
A recent article in STAT highlighted how the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has become one of the most diverse medical schools in the US. The school’s success is attributed to a variety of overlapping strategies, including shifting admissions criteria, providing scholarships for economically disadvantaged students, waiving application fees, focusing on primary care in underserved areas, and extensively mentoring students. The school is also building a pathway to admit more students from community colleges.
These strategies are echoed in the research about how to diversify the health care workforce. There are other promising examples: UC Programs in Medical Education is largely credited with increasing the percentage of all UC medical students who come from underrepresented groups from 16% in 2000 to 40% in 2021, and the California Medical Scholars Program just enrolled its first cohort of students.
Nearly half the current class at UC Davis School of Medicine is Black, Latino/x, American Indian or Alaska Native.
From the Blog
Claudia Boyd-Barrett How one clinic's pilot turned into a large-scale project to bring health care services to transitional and permanent supportive housing sites in greater Los Angeles. |
Vanessa Grubbs We cannot achieve health equity for Black patients without expanding the Black physician workforce, and the nation’s medical institutions are not achieving that goal. |
Recent Releases
California’s public hospitals provide essential supports for people with serious illness through inpatient and outpatient palliative care. CHCF’s collection of Resources to Support Palliative Care in Public Hospitals provides information, tools, and step-by-step approaches for making the case for and evaluating the fiscal impact of these services.
Little is known about the employment of community health workers and promotores (CHW/Ps) in the health care sector in California. Based on a survey of hospitals and health care centers, this report describes the current employment practices by both types of organizations related to CHW/Ps.
A new report surveys the research linking primary care to improved health equity. Authors urge California to center primary care improvement efforts around equity and highlight opportunities for primary care influencers, providers, and teams to take action.
Upcoming Event
Join CIN for a webinar on April 6 at noon (PT). This discussion will provide historic and contemporary information about issues that impact the health of Indigenous people in California with a focus on how federal and state policies continue to shape health outcomes.
Stories That Caught Our Attention
- After a COVID-19 Pandemic Pause, the State Will Restart Checking Medi-Cal Eligibility (CalMatters)
In April, California will resume its annual eligibility reviews for Medi-Cal enrollees. With some no longer qualifying or unaware they need to renew their coverage, officials estimate 2 to 3 million people could lose their insurance. Related: See CHCF's collection of resources on upcoming changes to Medi-Cal.
- The Hospital-At-Home Movement (Ground Truths - Eric Topol)
The COVID-19 pandemic gave the movement a jolt, and it's just getting started, says a renowned expert on COVID-19 and biomedical matters. Eric Topol argues that if we’re interested in leveraging current technology and analytics, reducing costs, and providing the best care and comfort for patients, the US should be prioritizing hospital-at-home research to pave the way.
- Nursing Shortage Puts Medically Fragile Children at Risk, Spurs Calls for Change (California Health Report)
Fulfilling requests for home nurses has become close to impossible — especially for the more than 1 in 4 California children with special health care needs who are insured through Medi-Cal. The state program typically pays nurses less than private insurance for this care.
- Black Patients Dress Up and Modify Speech to Reduce Bias, California Survey Shows (California Healthline)
One-third of Black patients report bringing a companion into the exam room to observe and advocate for them. And, the CHCF study found, more than a quarter of Black Californians avoid medical care simply because they believe they will be treated unfairly. Related: Read CHCF's Listening to Black Californians report.
- 'Indentured Servitude': Nurses Hit with Hefty Debt When Trying to Leave Hospitals (NBC News)
Requiring departing nurses to pay their employers for training programs has become increasingly common, with some hospitals sending $15,000 bills.
- California to End $54 Million Walgreens Contract After Abortion Pill Dispute (Associated Press)
Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew a $54 million contract with Walgreens after the pharmacy giant indicated it would not sell an abortion pill by mail in some conservative-led states.
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