California Medicine Scholars Program Marks Three Years of Statewide Impact
The California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP) is celebrating three years of statewide progress toward building a more diverse and community‑focused physician workforce. Launched in 2022, CMSP has grown into a powerful model for expanding access to medical careers, beginning at California’s community colleges. This year’s impact report highlights key milestones, student outcomes, and partnerships that show how CMSP is turning vision into measurable results.
Through four Regional Hubs of Healthcare Opportunity (RHHO), CMSP now connects over 50 colleges and universities across 31 counties, providing students with mentorship, academic guidance, hands‑on experiences, and a clear path from community college to medical school. In just three years, student participation has tripled, serving more than 600 scholars from first‑generation, and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This year, the program celebrated the first CMSP scholar to matriculate into medical school.
“As a community college student, there weren’t many opportunities to get involved with medicine. CMSP provides premedical opportunities along with mentorship from medical students and physicians. I applied to CMSP because of this program’s long-term investment in its scholars.” — Andrea S., CMSP Scholar, UC San Diego School of Medicine
The program supports community college students on their pathway to becoming doctors by empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to succeed in their academic pursuits. Moreover, this program plays a vital role in reducing health disparities for communities of color in California by increasing the diversity of primary care physicians who are trained and ultimately practice in the state.
CMSP is currently supported through funding from the Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI) and generous philanthropic support, with FoundationCCC serving as the program’s Central Office. By supporting underrepresented students, CMSP is accelerating better medical care for all.
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