Vanessa Mora Molina, a native of Fowler, California, overcame challenges growing up in a small farming town in the San Joaquin Valley where access to basic medical care was often limited. Despite these obstacles, Mora will graduate this June with her M.D. from one of UC’s six medical schools, along with over 700 other medical students. The majority of these new doctors, 73%, are expected to remain in California for their residency training.
Mora and many of her fellow graduates have participated in the UC PRIME program, which offers specialized classwork and training to prepare future physicians to serve underserved communities in the state. Through this program, doctors are equipped to address the lack of healthcare access in regions known as “health care deserts,” where language and cultural barriers often hinder effective care delivery.
Dr. Katherine Flores, a family medicine physician who mentored Mora at a clinic in Fresno, emphasized the importance of having doctors who not only practice in a community but also understand its unique needs and challenges. She highlighted the significance of recruiting medical students from the Valley who can relate to the culture and circumstances of the residents they serve.
To learn more about Mora’s journey and the impact of UC’s medical programs on underserved communities, read the full article on the UC Newsroom website.