M.D. Programs and Pathways
Community Health Scholars
PRIME Central Coast
PRIME Central Coast is a regional medical education program developed through a partnership between UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Santa Cruz. The program is designed to prepare future physicians to advance health and expand access to care across California’s Central Coast.
Program highlights include:
- Recruiting students with strong ties and lived experience in California’s Central Coast communities
- A focus on reducing health inequities across the region
- Clerkship opportunities in Central Coast communities during the clinical training years
- Opportunities for two- or four-week electives in Central Coast communities
Program Goals
PRIME Central Coast is committed to developing physician-leaders who will:
- Advance care in the Central Coast
Prepare graduates to serve diverse coastal and rural communities with evolving healthcare needs. - Promote health equity
Address disparities in access, language, and social determinants of health, with a focus on farmworker and immigrant populations. - Lead through community engagement
Improve health outcomes through culturally responsive care, prevention, and strong community partnerships. - Strengthen regional healthcare systems
Build sustained collaborations with local hospitals, clinics, and organizations to enhance care delivery and training opportunities.
Why Choose PRIME Central Coast?
If you’re from the Central Coast — or passionate about serving it — you’ll find a program designed to help you give back to the communities that shaped you.
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Rooted in Community
We actively recruit and support students from the region through mentorship, pathway programs and partnerships such as the Pre-Med Post-Baccalaureate Program offered through UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Extension.
Learn more about UC Santa Cruz’s Pre-Med Post-Baccalaureate Program
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Emphasis on Primary Care and Community Health
The program prioritizes training in primary care, preventive medicine, community health, and health equity, preparing graduates to make a measurable impact in underserved communities.
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Real-World, Longitudinal Training
Students engage in hands-on clinical experiences in Central Coast settings beginning in year one. This longitudinal approach integrates academic learning with real-world practice and strengthens ties to the communities served.
Frequently Asked Questions
All Community Health Scholars (CHS) students participate in a required in-person orientation held approximately three weeks before the start of UC Davis School of Medicine orientation, typically in late June or early July.
Most orientation activities take place in Sacramento, with one to two days on the Central Coast. Following orientation, PRIME Central Coast students complete a two-week community clinical immersion experience on the Central Coast. Housing is provided during this time.
Many Central Coast communities are also rural, and students often apply to both programs.
Both programs include clerkships and curriculum focused on the communities they serve, but differ in structure and regional focus:
- PRIME Central Coast students complete their entire clerkship year on the Central Coast, with curriculum focused specifically on Central Coast health needs and communities.
- Rural PRIME students complete at least 20 weeks of clerkships in rural communities across Northern and Central California and receive broader rural health training.
Yes. PRIME Central Coast students complete their entire clerkship year on the Central Coast and are expected to relocate during this time.
Housing support is provided when students must travel back to Sacramento for required curricular activities.
PRIME Central Coast students will receive a stipend to offset travel costs, along with housing support when travel is required for:
- Central Coast curricular activities during Years 1 and 2
- Sacramento-based curricular activities during clerkship year
No. You do not need to be from the Central Coast to apply.
Preference is given to applicants with lived experience in Central Coast communities and/or a demonstrated commitment to practicing in the region after training.
No. All qualified applicants with strong ties to the Central Coast are encouraged to apply.
No. California’s Central Coast communities are underserved in all fields, ranging from primary care to specialty care.
The curriculum of PRIME Central Coast will highlight opportunities for primary care specialties, but we aim to train physicians who are committed to practicing on the Central Coast after they complete their medical training, regardless of specialty.
No. A master’s degree is not required during medical school. However, students who choose to pursue one may be eligible for additional financial support.
Yes, PRIME Central Coast students are eligible for additional scholarship funding each year.