Four UC Irvine students made history this year, becoming the first graduates of an innovative education program that aims to help meet the needs of medically underserved communities in the state.
Launched five years ago, the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) was the first medical education program in the country addressing the unique health care needs of Latinos. Anna Altshuler, Sarah Lopez, Gabriel Rivera and Carl Smith were the first to complete the program.
“Our first class of students embodies the very best of PRIME-LC,” said Dr. Charles Vega, PRIME-LC director. “They are diligent, empathetic and highly motivated to become physician-leaders, and they are certain to succeed in this goal.”
University of California medical student enrollment has risen for the first time in more than 30 years, thanks to PRIME programs, which have grown to include 193 students at all five UC medical centers. That’s a highlight of UC Health’s annual report, which was scheduled to be presented at the Regents’ meeting today (Nov. 19) but was postponed because of a busy agenda. The report, part of UC’s 2009 Accountability Report that tracks the university’s progress in meeting key performance and policy measures, outlines UC Health’s activities, challenges and initiatives, from PRIME to telehealth to the financial performance of UC medical centers (see related story).
“The report shows the exceptional breadth and depth of quality across the UC health sciences teaching, research and clinical care programs,” said Dr. Cathryn Nation, UC associate vice president for health sciences and services.
“We want to serve as a model for this nation in terms of what a system can bring to the health of its communities,” added Dr. John D. Stobo, UC senior vice president for health sciences and services, who is responsible for UC Health’s systemwide coordination, strategic planning, policy development and advocacy.
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