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REACH | Community Health Scholars | M.D. Program Pathways | UC Davis School of Medicine

REACH

REACH is designed for medical students committed to improving access to high-quality, equitable care for individuals and communities across California’s Central Valley. 

Program highlights include:

  • Recruits students with meaningful lived experience in California’s Central Valley who are committed to reducing health inequities
  • 24+ weeks of core clerkships in Central Valley communities
  • Opportunities for two- or four-week elective rotations throughout the Central Valley
  • Community-based learning experiences across all four years of medical school
  • Additional training focused on health issues affecting Central Valley communities
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Reimagining Education to Advance Central California Health

Launched in 2018, Reimagining Education to Advance Central California Health (REACH) builds on the success of the San Joaquin Valley PRIME pathway, originally launched by UC Davis in 2011 and transitioned to UCSF Fresno in 2018. The program is part of the University of California’s PRIME (Programs in Medical Education) initiative, which prepares physician leaders committed to serving California’s underserved communities.

Program Goals

The REACH pathway program aims to:

  • Inspire more physicians to practice in California’s Central Valley — one of the state’s most medically underserved regions
  • Reduce health inequities in Central Valley communities
  • Improve the health and well-being of Central Valley residents
  • Build long-term partnerships with communities, hospitals, clinics, and physicians throughout the region
Why Choose REACH?

Students who want to make a difference in Central California communities are encouraged to apply, regardless of specialty choice.

  • Community-Focused Curriculum

    Students receive additional education on topics impacting the Central Valley, including regional health disparities, water politics, pesticide exposure, and other community health challenges.

  • Immersive Regional Experiences

    During the first two years, students participate in visits with community organizations throughout the Central Valley to better understand the people and systems shaping local health outcomes.

  • Summer Clinical Rotation

    Students complete a four-week summer rotation between the first and second years of medical school at clinical sites including Kaiser Permanente Central Valley in Modesto and Kaweah Health in Visalia.

  • Longitudinal Central Valley Training

    Students spend a minimum of 24 weeks during their clerkship year training at clinical sites across the Central Valley.

  • Expanded Elective Opportunities

    Students have access to the COMET (California Oregon Medical Education and Training) Collaborative, a partnership of medical education programs, health systems, public health organizations, community health centers, and community-based organizations focused on strengthening care in rural and underserved communities across Northern California and Southern Oregon.

    Through COMET Collaborative, students gain additional elective and community-based training opportunities throughout all four years of medical school.

    Learn more about COMET Collaborative
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.

Following orientation, students may choose to participate in the Pre-Matriculation Program, which offers an early introduction to the learning skills and academic strategies that support success in medical school. Information about applying to this program is provided upon admission to the UC Davis School of Medicine.

Learn more about the Pre-Matriculation Program

Many students apply and are strong candidates for both programs because of the overlap between rural and Central Valley health needs.

Both programs are designed for students committed to serving underserved communities, but each focuses on a different population and training experience:

  • REACH focuses on California’s Central Valley, with curriculum and clinical experiences centered on Central Valley communities and health issues. Students complete a minimum of 24 weeks of clerkship training in the region.
  • Rural PRIME focuses on rural health across Northern and Central California. Students receive rural health-focused training and complete a minimum of 20 weeks of clerkships in rural communities.

Learn more about the Rural PRIME pathway

Students are expected to maintain their primary residence in the Sacramento area throughout medical school.

For clerkships located in the Central Valley, we will provide housing. In addition, all UC Davis School of Medicine students receive a mileage stipend for travel to clinical sites located more than 25 miles away.

No. Applicants do not need to be from Central California to apply to REACH. However, students should demonstrate a strong commitment to serving underserved communities in California’s Central Valley after completing their medical training.

No. California’s Central Valley communities are underserved in all fields, ranging from primary care to specialty care.

We aim to train physicians who are committed to practicing in the Central Valley 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, REACH students are eligible for additional scholarship funding each year.