Prep Médico | UC Davis Health

Preparando Estudiantes Para ser Médicos

Professional and leadership development, clinical rotations, CPR training

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  • Interact with health professionals at UC Davis Medical Center and Kaiser facilities.
  • Examine Latinx health disparities and the social determinants of health.
  • Understand their personal leadership style and develop new skills.
  • Receive structured academic advising and mentoring.
  • Scholars may be eligible for a stipend upon successful completion of the program past scholar.

We are planning to host an in-person program in 2023. To be informed of the latest updates, please refer to our website and social media as we near the start of the program. Programming for the 2023 cohort will begin on Tuesday, June 20th and will end on Friday, July 21st.

  • First- or second-year college student (or community college).
  • Resident of the Central Valley or Northern California.
  • Completion of English Composition AND one semester/quarter of General Chemistry OR General Biology.
  • GPA of 2.85 or higher.
  • Demonstrated interest in becoming a physician and serving Latinx communities.

I am currently a sophomore, but after the spring semester, I will be considered a junior. Can I still apply to the Prep Médico program?

Yes, rising junior students can apply to the Prep Médico program for this summer.

I am a junior/senior at my community college. Can I still apply to the Prep Médico program?

Yes, all community college students are eligible.

I am currently attending a state school. Is the program only available to UC students?

The Prep Médico program is offered to all freshmen and sophomore students from the Community Colleges, California State Universities and the University of California schools.

I am currently attending an international school. Can I still apply?

Applicants must be residing in the Central Valley or Northern California.

I currently reside in southern California. Can I still apply?

The extensive research completed for this program shows that the Northern and Central Valley regions have the greatest need for physicians. Therefore, at this time, the funding for our program will invest in the students who live and attend college in these regions. You may still apply, however, applicants residing in the Northern and Central Valley regions will receive priority.

Can DACA or AB540 students apply to the program?

Yes, DACA and AB540 students are welcome to apply to the Prep Médico program.

Can my high school chemistry and/or biology courses count towards the Prep Médico course requirements?

We do not accept high school level/AP courses to substitute the science or English requirements for our program.

I am currently in the process of finishing my General Biology/General Chemistry course. Can I still apply, or do I need to wait until the course is on my official transcript?

We recommend that you submit your unofficial transcript upon applying to the program. If you are accepted into the program, you will need to submit another copy showing your final grade and successful completion of the course.

I am a college freshman and have not taken any English classes, but I have both General Chemistry and General Biology. Can I still apply to the Prep Médico program?

The requirements are the completion of either General Chemistry OR General Biology, in addition to English.

My GPA is lower than 2.85. Can I still apply to the program?

We encourage all students to apply. The Admissions Committee will review all applications.

Can I take summer school classes during the program?

Students will NOT be able to take summer school classes, or work during the program. This is an intensive 6-week program, and students will be in classes from 8:00am-5:00pm (Mon-Fri), and include some evening and weekend activities. 

What does “first generation, historically disadvantaged background” mean?

Generally, students in this status also qualify for financial aid such as Pell grants, BOG grants, EOP grants, etc. The Admissions Committee who will be reviewing the applications will determine the eligibility of each applicant.

What is a college financial aid letter? What do I need to do?

Generally, students receive a financial aid award letter from their campus at the beginning of the academic year. This letter will outline the types of funding awarded to each student from their Pell Grant, BOG grants, EOP grants, work study, loans, etc. Please contact your Financial Aid Office to obtain a copy of your grants and scholarships. FAFSA reports are NOT acceptable as proof of financial aid. Alternatively, you may attach a copy of your award package page/summary for the academic year from your online student account. This summary must list your name and the type of financial aid awards received, and the amounts received.

I am not receiving any financial aid – what should I submit in the financial aid section of my application?

Please upload a PDF document with your name, current school, and indicate that you are not currently receiving any financial aid. If you wish, you may explain why you are not receiving/not eligible for financial aid.

I am not currently receiving financial aid at my home institution. Can I still apply to the Prep Médico program?

All students are encouraged to apply. However, applicants will be required to provide evidence of financial need – for example: government subsidies, unemployment, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Can the uploaded transcripts be unofficial transcripts?

Yes, you can upload unofficial transcripts. However, if you are accepted into the program, you will need to submit another copy showing your final grade and successful completion of the required course(s).

What will the Prep Médico program cover?

The Prep Médico program does its best to cover housing and transportation to and from the dorms to the UC Davis Medical Center for all accepted students. Any additional expenses such as laundry, meals and weekend excursions will be the responsibility of the student. Housing and transportation be provided for program related activities.

Is there a guideline that should be followed for the letters of recommendation? Is there a limit of how long the letters need to be?

The letters should be no longer than 1-2 pages. You should share the Prep Médico website with the professionals who will write your letters so that they have a full picture of the program. Letters of recommendation must be in PDF format, and include the writer’s signature. A guideline for letters of recommendation can be found on our Prep Médico Application Resources page.

To whom should the letter of recommendation be addressed?

If you do not wish to upload your letter of recommendation with your application, or if your recommender would like to send it to us directly, they can be emailed to: hs-prepmedico@ucdavis.edu.

Do the letters of recommendation need to be from professors, or can they be from other faculty/staff, or work supervisors?

Letters of recommendation can be written by professionals who can speak to your academic and professional goals. Professors, counselors, mentors and supervisors from health-related or community-related internships, shadowing or work experiences are acceptable. Please see our application resources page for our Letter of Recommendation Guidelines.

Do we need to physically mail in any part of the application?

No documents are required to be mailed to our office.

Am I able to save my application for completion at a later time?

Unfortunately, our application system does not allow you to save your application. Please ensure that you have all materials ready when filling out your application to prevent the loss of any information. Once submitted, you will not be able to update your application.

I’ve submitted my application. Is there anything else that I need to submit?

There are no additional documents required at this time.  


If you have any other questions not answered here please email us at: hs-prepmedico@ucdavis.edu.

ACE-PC student Kristina Rodriguez
Support and resources are everything to people who sometimes don’t have anything. It is so important to have programs like these to bridge those gaps for people who have a passion, but don’t have the resources, help and support to pursue a medical education.ACE-PC student Kristina Rodriguez

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mailing Address: 4610 X Street, Suite 2104, Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2743

Email: hs-prepmedico@ucdavis.edu

The Prep Medico team is working remotely. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns about the program. 

UC Davis Program Targets Next Generation of Physicians to Advance Latinx Health

In 2016 the University of California, Davis and The Permanente Medical Group launched a new initiative at UC Davis School of Medicine dedicated to building the next generation of physicians committed to advancing Latinx health.

The program, called Preparando Estudiantes Para Ser Medicos, or Preparing Students to Be Physicians, (“Prep Médico” for short) is a multi-faceted initiative that will provide scholarships, mentorship and internship opportunities, a residential program, volunteer service opportunities, and hands-on clinical experiences for pre-med and medical students. The goal is to expand diversity in medicine and ultimately increase the number of Latinos who choose to become physicians.

“With the growing demographic of the Latino community in California, it is imperative that we be proactive in educating a future workforce that is both skilled and culturally responsive to and respectful of the community we serve,” said former UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “Launching innovative and scholarly initiatives such as Prep Médico helps UC Davis better serve our local and global community and represents a tangible way we are breaking new ground to meet society’s most pressing challenges and leading the way for higher education in the 21st century and beyond.”

UC Davis expects to serve approximately 100 students annually through the new program, which begins with scholarship support for medical school admissions testing this year and will be fully implemented by 2018.

“There is an urgent need for California and the nation’s health care providers to have a workforce of culturally competent physicians who can help address health inequities in underserved communities,” said David Acosta, former associate vice chancellor of Diversity and Inclusion at UC Davis, who will serve as director of the new program.

“Our partnership with The Permanente Medical Group can be transformative, not just for UC Davis, but for California and the nation as well. Prep Médico will enable us to encourage and train more young people to become physicians and serve the rapidly growing Latino community.”

“The Prep Médico program will provide a holistic, comprehensive and longitudinal approach to supporting diverse students at key stages in their educational experience,” said Julie Freischlag, former dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences at UC Davis. “It will encourage and support students from their first days in college all the way through medical school to help ensure that we can increase the number of Latino physicians practicing in California and around the nation.”

In addition to launching the Prep Médico program, The Permanente Medical Group also announced today its renewed commitment to UC Davis’ Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC) program. The ACE-PC initiative is a unique medical education program that allows a select group of eligible students to complete medical school in three years, one year earlier than traditional programs, and then directly enter into their primary care residency. The UC Davis program eliminates summer vacations and electives, and is designed for students who know they want to become primary-care physicians.

Kristina Rodriguez, a Healdsburg native who is a first-year student at UC Davis School of Medicine, has already started her clinical rotations with The Permanente Medical Group physicians through the ACE-PC program. She said the experience has reinforced her childhood dream of becoming a physician and providing medical care to the Latino community.

“Having support and resources are everything to people who sometimes don’t have anything,” said Rodriguez, who is the first person in her family to go to college or medical school. “It is so important to have these programs to bridge those gaps for people who have a passion, but don’t have the resources, help and support to pursue a medical education. These programs are going to be essential.”

About the UC Davis School of Medicine

About The Permanente Medical Group

According to the U.S. Census, Latinos are the largest single racial/ethnic group in California, making up 39 percent of the state’s population. However, only 4.7 percent of physicians in California are Latino. Having a diverse workforce is a key component in the delivery of quality, competent health care. Studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Institute of Medicine have indicated that race concordance between patients and physicians can result in improved patient satisfaction, trust with better adherence to medical treatment, health literacy, and patient safety. Expanding the Latino physician workforce could play a significant role in reducing health care disparities in those underserved communities.

“This program is part of The Permanente Medical Group’s commitment to meeting the needs of all patients throughout California, including the rapidly growing Latino community,” said Robert Pearl, executive director and chief executive officer of The Permanente Medical Group. “As the nation’s largest medical group with more than 8,000 physicians, we understand how important it is  to provide care that is culturally responsive and respectful.  To do that, California and the nation will need high quality, well-trained physicians who are knowledgeable about Latino culture and fluent in Spanish. Prep Médico will help us meet that very important need.”

Prep Médico Feature Videos

Learn about how Prep Médico is designed to expand diversity in medicine and ultimately increase the number of Latinos physicians.

Watch video

In the summer of 2016, UC Davis School of Medicine launched its first six-week residential program for freshman and sophomore college students interested in becoming physicians.

Watch video