Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Department of Internal Medicine | UC Davis Health

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the UC Davis Internal Medicine Residency Program, we proudly advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of medical education and practice.

Our commitment to fostering a richly diverse and inclusive environment is at the core of our program's values. We are committed to recruiting, training, and supporting physicians that are underrepresented in medicine and those with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences that enhance the learning and growth of all trainees and meet the workforce needs of our communities.

Our Community

We value the wide range of backgrounds and experiences our patients - including age, gender, race, culture, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity - and recognize that valuing these differences among our residents and faculty fosters an educational environment that allows for collaboration, growth, and more equitable care.

• Sacramento is ranked 3rd most racially and ethnically representative large city in the nation.
• UC Davis School of Medicine is ranked among the top schools in the U.S. for primary care training and for recruiting students who are representative of the population they will serve.

Cultivating Representation in Holistic Recruitment

We are dedicated to recruiting and training residents from underrepresented communities, varied backgrounds, cultures, and identities to create a vibrant community of learners.

• Holistic review of applications.
• Second Look events to highlight our commitment to inclusion and belonging in our community of patients and trainees, faculty, and staff.
• Visiting Elective Program Scholarship for fourth year medical students.

Promoting Cultural Humility in Education

We maintain an ongoing educational perspective grounded in health equity.

• Health equity discussions integrated into clinical rounds, academic sessions, and morning report.
• Quarterly journal clubs focused on health equity and outcomes
• Volunteer opportunities in UC Davis School of Medicine student run community clinics.
• Opportunity to get involved in health equity research and workforce diversity research with internal medicine faculty-led Center for a Diverse Healthcare Workforce (CDHW).

Fostering Inclusion

We aim to create an inclusive environment where every resident feels valued, respected, and supported.

• DICE, our resident-led inclusion committee, founded in 2015, is exceptionally engaged and active.
• Multiple layers of mentorship: peer mentor program, faculty mentor, and focused mentorship events.
• Coaching Program to help build clinical skills, combat the imposter experience, and approach residency with a growth mindset.
• Community Building Events planned in conjunction with DICE and Wellness committees.
• Active Office of Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence and Office of Student and Resident Diversity.

We acknowledge that fostering inclusion and belonging is a continual process, and we regularly review and improve our practices to ensure our program helps advance a more just healthcare system.