REACH
About REACH
Launched in 2018, REACH (Reimagining Education to Advance central California Health) is focused on training physicians to meet the healthcare workforce needs of California’s Central Valley. It is modeled after the successful San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PRIME pathway, which UC Davis launched in 2011 and transitioned to its new home at UCSF Fresno in 2018.
REACH is for medical students who are committed to ensuring high quality, diverse and well-distributed medical care is available to populations, communities, and individuals in California’s Central Valley. Students interested in gaining knowledge and expertise in caring for central California populations are encouraged to apply regardless of their eventual specialty choice.
The goals of REACH are to:
- Strengthen the desire for new physicians to practice in central California– one of California’s most medically underserved areas
- Reduce health inequities in central California communities
- Improve the health status of central California residents
- Form lasting relationships with communities, hospitals, clinics and physicians to enhance health care in the region
Key aspects of the REACH curriculum include:
- Additional education on topics relevant to the Central Valley including Central Valley specific health issues, water politics, impact of pesticides, and more
- Visiting community organizations located in the Central Valley during years 1 and 2
- A 4-week summer rotation between 1st and 2nd year of medical school located at Kaiser Permanent Central Valley in Modesto, CA and Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia, CA
- A minimum of 24 weeks during their clerkship year at sites located in the Central Valley
- Access to the COMPADRE network of residency programs serving rural and underserved communities in the Northern CA and Southern OR region. This offers additional elective opportunities throughout all 4 years of medical school.
Find out how to apply here!
All CHS students are required to participate in a week of in-person CHS orientation which is scheduled for 3 weeks prior to the start of UC Davis orientation, typically late June or early July. Following CHS orientation, students may enroll in the Pre-Matriculation program for early introduction to learning skills that will facilitate success in medical school. Details for applying for the Pre-Matriculation program are included at the time of admission to UC Davis Medical School.
We understand that there are many rural communities in the Central Valley, and many students apply to both programs for that reason! REACH students will receive more curriculum tailored to Central Valley specific topics and additionally spend a minimum of 24 weeks in clerkship sites located in the Central Valley. Rural PRIME students will receive more curriculum tailored to rural health and spend a minimum of 20 weeks in clerkship sites located across Northern and Central California rural communities. Please see our Rural PRIME page for more information.
You are expected to maintain your primary residence in the Sacramento area. For clerkships located in the Central Valley, we will provide housing. Additionally, all UC Davis students receive a mileage stipend for travel to sites > 25 miles away.
You do not have to be from central California to be a REACH student. However, commitment to practicing in underserved communities in California’s Central Valley after completing medical training is required.
No. California’s Central Valley is underserved in all fields, ranging from primary care to specialty care. We want to train physicians who are committed to returning to the Central Valley to practice after they complete their medical training, regardless of specialty.
No. We do not require students to complete a master’s degree during medical school. However, students who wish to pursue one are eligible for additional financial support.
Yes, REACH students are eligible for additional scholarship funding each year.