Dr. Monique Atwal, a San Joaquin Valley PRIME alum who grew up in Selma and now serves as a psychiatrist and faculty member at UCSF Fresno, reflects on how her UC PRIME education shaped her path in health care. “Being a doctor wasn’t just about me,” she shares. “I always wanted to return to the Valley. Being in the PRIME program gave me the opportunity to be part of the safety net of health care here.” Her story mirrors the broader mission of UC Programs in Medical Education (UC PRIME) — an innovative curriculum designed to train physicians who are connected to their communities and prepared to address California’s most pressing health care shortages.