Accelerated Medical Education Programs
3-Year Accelerated Pathways
ACE-PC
Program Name
Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC)
What It Is
A three-year M.D. pathway designed to fast-track students into primary care careers.
Key Program Highlights
- Focus on primary care
- Partnership with Kaiser Permanente Northern California
- Established in 2014
Clinical Training
Early, continuous hands-on training in primary care settings.
Ideal Candidate
- Strong interest in primary care
- Commitment to serving diverse or underserved populations
Admissions
- Apply through traditional UC Davis School of Medicine process using American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
- Complete UC Davis School of Medicine secondary application, if invited
- Additional ACE-PC panel interview to assess fit, commitment and academic readiness
- Six to eight students admitted per year
Outcome
Enter primary care residency one year earlier than traditional M.D. program students.
ACE-PC FAQs
Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC) is a rigorous three-year accelerated M.D. pathway for students committed to careers in primary care.
We use the term “primary care” to include:
- Family Medicine
- General Internal Medicine
Applicants apply to the UC Davis School of Medicine through AMCAS and indicate their interest in ACE-PC on the secondary application.
The program admits 6 to 8 accelerated students each year.
Students complete the same pre-clerkship curriculum and all six core clerkship rotations as the traditional four-year M.D. program, with an accelerated timeline. The fourth year is condensed to include two acting internships and one elective rotation.
For students who know that they will pursue a career in primary care after medical school, ACE-PC allows them to:
- Graduate in three years, one less year in medical school
- Begin clinical training in Kaiser Permanente and UC Davis-affiliated clinics from the first week
- Gain continuous, hands-on experience in an integrated health system
- Build skills in population health, chronic disease management, and team-based care
- Prepare to serve diverse and underserved communities
Students start classes six weeks before the traditional orientation.
Students receive the same holidays and winter breaks as the traditional four-year M.D. students.
ACE-PC students may pursue residency training in family medicine, primary care, or internal medicine.
The ACE-PC curriculum is designed for students committed to primary care. Students who choose to pursue a different specialty after matriculation may decelerate to the traditional four-year M.D. program. Students are strongly encouraged to be confident in their primary care commitment before applying.
Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress may be transitioned into the traditional four-year M.D. program.
No. Admission to the traditional four-year M.D. program is not affected by ACE-PC selection outcomes.
Tuition is the same as the traditional four-year M.D. program. The first year may be slightly higher due to the earlier start date.
Program leadership recognize the financial costs associated with pursuing a medical career. If accepted, the accelerated programs provide a scholarship to help offset these expenses.
Students are eligible for the same financial aid packages as the traditional M.D. program, provided they complete the financial aid application. Awards are initially based on a four-year program and are adjusted if the student is accepted into ACE-PC.
