M.D. Programs and Pathways
Community Health Scholars
TEACH-MS
About the Program
TEACH-MS is a four-year tailored M.D program at the UC Davis School of Medicine for students with a strong interest in primary care for urban underserved communities.
Program highlights include:
- Recruits students from disadvantaged backgrounds committed to primary care specialties, including family medicine, outpatient internal medicine, and pediatrics
- 24 plus weeks of core clerkships in urban underserved communities
- Opportunities for two- or four-week electives in underserved settings
- Community-based learning experiences throughout all four years of medical school
- Additional training focused on the health challenges facing underserved urban populations
Program Goals
The TEACH-MS pathway program aims to:
- Inspire more physicians to practice in California’s urban underserved communities
- Reduce health inequities in underserved urban populations
- Improve the health and well-being of underserved California residents
- Build lasting partnerships with communities, hospitals, clinics, and physicians serving underserved areas
Why Choose TEACH-MS?
Students interested in a primary care career serving California’s urban underserved communities are encouraged to apply.
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Community-Focused Curriculum
Students receive additional education on topics affecting underserved urban communities, including addiction medicine, harm reduction, advocacy, structural racism, and related health equity issues.
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Community Engagement
During the first two years, students visit organizations serving underserved communities in Sacramento to better understand the social and structural factors shaping health outcomes.
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Summer Institute on Race and Health
Students participate in a four-week summer program exploring equity, cultural humility, population health, and the intersection of race and medicine.
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Urban Underserved Clinical Training
Students receive preferential assignment to clerkship sites serving low-income communities in Sacramento and surrounding areas.
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Expanded Elective Opportunities
Learn more about COMET CollaborativeStudents 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 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.
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.
Students are expected to maintain their primary residence in the Sacramento area throughout medical school.
For the OB-GYN clerkship located in French Camp, California, 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.
Yes. TEACH-MS is designed for students interested in primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, or pediatrics. However, our graduates are not required to choose any particular 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, TEACH-MS students are eligible for additional scholarship funding each year.