THURS-039 - Addressing Physician Shortages in California’s Tribal Communities

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn about how UC Davis School of Medicine (UCDSOM) is working to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by California’s tribal populations with tailored curriculum and hands-on clinical experience through partnerships with California tribal health centers.

Since launching in 2022, Tribal Health PRIME has successfully matriculated 15 American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, 8 who previously completed Wy’East, a 10-month post baccalaureate pathway hosted by the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE). Preliminary data indicates pathway programs are crucial for supporting academic success and the professional development of AI/AN medical students. In 2024, UCDSOM expanded its efforts with the Huwighurruk Tribal Health Post-Baccalaureate Program, which offers culturally specific support to help AI/AN pre-med learner's transition to medical school. Through these initiatives, UCDSOM aims to strengthen the physician workforce in rural and tribal communities.

Detailed abstract description: UC Davis School of Medicine (UCDSOM) is committed to addressing physician workforce shortages by recruiting and training medical students who are likely to practice in rural and tribal communities. Attendees will learn how physician shortages in California contribute to health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Attendees will also better understand the urgent need to train culturally humble physicians with strong ties to AI/AN communities.

UCDSOM joined the Wy’East Post-Baccalaureate Pathway (Wy’East), designed to support AI/AN students’ preparation for medical school and deepen their understanding of the health needs of tribal communities. Concurrently, UCDSOM developed Tribal Health PRIME (THP), an undergraduate medical education pathway focused on training future physicians to meet the healthcare needs of California’s tribal communities through equitable and culturally sensitive healthcare. UCDSOM recruits applicants with demonstrated commitment to serving the AI/AN community from the general UCDSOM applicant pool and Wy’East. THP offers tailored curriculum for the personal and professional development of students through topics such as the impact of colonization on AI/AN health, tribal and urban health care services, and the unique political relationship that tribes have with federal and state governments. Additionally, THP offers immersive clinical experiences through partnerships with multiple tribal health centers in California.

In 2024, informed by best practices from Wy’East, UCDSOM launched its own program to support AI/AN learners – the Huwighurruk Tribal Health Post-Baccalaureate Program. As part of a continuum of educational and cultural support, Huwighurruk provides a holistic, culturally specific framework for the successful recruitment, training, retention, and graduation of AI/AN learners pursuing a medical degree. The intent is to engage learners earlier in their academic journey, provide support, and prepare them for matriculation to medical school. Currently in its second year, Huwighurruk has recruited two 4-person cohorts who are preparing for matriculation to UCDSOM via completing the Medical School Admissions Test, upper-division Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Native American Studies coursework, and activities that intertwine foundational clinical knowledge and cultural tenants.

Our data suggests that pathway programs like THP are vital to the development of strong professional identities and academic success of AI/AN medical students. Since launching in 2022, UCDSOM matriculated 15 AI/AN students into the THP program, 8 of whom previously completed Wy’East. This demonstrates that pathway programs focused on equipping AI/AN students with the tools for academic and professional success can support student progression through medical training with the end goal of improving health outcomes of the communities they will later serve.