We’re working to serve cultures and communities that have been underrepresented and marginalized by the health care system, and to ensure all feel welcome by reflecting our community's diversity in our hiring and clinical practices. Some examples of work in this area:
Culturally Competent, Socially Inclusive Care
Circumstances we’re helping to improve:
Addressing representation
Some cultures and communities have been underrepresented, and often marginalized, by the health care system and medical community
Creating structural change
Innovative, culturally congruent training prepares future care providers for practice in diverse, often medically underserved communities
Reflecting diversity
Ensuring all feel welcome by reflecting our community’s diversity in our hiring and clinical practices
Some examples of our efforts:
TRAINING FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
Spotlight: Community Health Scholars
A long-established goal of the UC Davis School of Medicine is to train physicians for practice in diverse communities where they are most needed to bridge California’s health equity gap.
The school’s innovative Community Health Scholars programs, and other unique programs for med students and residents, train future doctors to practice in California’s rural, urban, valley and tribal communities. Most of these areas are challenged by health disparities.
INVESTED AND RECOGNIZED
Spotlight: Leader in Healthcare Equality (LGBTQ+)
Named a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader for 13 consecutive years by the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, a national-scale nonprofit that strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
TRAINING FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
Spotlight: National honors for educational diversity
Despite California’s long-standing ban on affirmative action, the UC Davis School of Medicine has become one of the nation’s most diverse medical schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
The medical school and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, which employs similar holistic admissions practices, each have received excellence awards from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, and have been in the policy and media spotlight as national models.
TRAINING FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
Creating pathways to health careers
Our initiatives to boost the number of health care providers in underserved parts of Northern California also include a variety of unique “pathway” programs.
These initiatives target students in pre-medical school environments like high school or community college, exposing and preparing them for potential health careers that can help the state’s health care workforce better reflect and serve its diverse population. Some examples:
More Believe in Better Highlights
Some recent examples of our ongoing efforts to advance health for all.
‘Treat Me Right’ campaign aims to improve heart care for women
The Women’s Heart Care Forum highlighted the “Treat Me Right” campaign, offering hands‑on learning and education to improve heart‑disease awareness, diagnosis and care for women.
Building stronger hearts: UC Davis Health’s Cardiac Rehab
With UC Davis Health Cardiac Rehab, a hesitant patient lost weight, reduced symptoms and gained confidence through expert support and proven, high‑quality care.
A record year: UC Davis Emergency Department cares for over 100,000 patients in 2025
Emergency Medicine reached a major milestone in 2025, caring for more than 100,000 patient visits in a single year for the first time.
Opening doors to the future of radiology: Inside the RaISS Program at UC Davis Health
UC Davis Health’s RaISS program introduces community college and early undergraduates to radiology by fostering diversity and early exposure to medical imaging careers.