The community college path to medicine: an untapped resource to diversify and improve the future physician workforce

California faces a physician workforce crisis: an aging physician population that lacks representation from socioeconomically disadvantaged and underrepresented racial and ethnic communities. Given physician practice patterns, this discrepancy severely impacts millions of Californians. In response, the California Future Health Workforce Commission issued recommendations to enhance workforce diversity, emphasizing the importance of expanding access to educational pathways in order to build a workforce more representative of the state and its needs.

In 2021, Senate Bill 40, proposed by Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-14, paved the way for the establishment of the California Medicine Scholars Program (CMSP). CMSP takes a pioneering approach by focusing on community colleges as critical entry points for aspiring medical professionals. This strategic initiative involves forming Regional Hubs of Healthcare Opportunity (RHHO) that connect medical schools, community colleges, 4-year universities, and health systems to facilitate student mentorship, academic advising, and early exposure to health care environments. The program aims to create a scalable, systematic pathway for community college students, leveraging their unique educational experiences to better serve California's diverse populations.

Initial outcomes indicate promising engagement and interest, with 399 scholars enrolled across 4 RHHO regions since the 2022-2023 academic year, including significant representation from underrepresented groups and first-generation college students. As of the 2023-2024 academic year, 150 scholars have successfully been admitted to a 4-year university-the first major academic milestone on the pathway to medical school. However, challenges remain, such as limited partnerships with community colleges and funding to expand to additional regions.

Future steps include targeted outreach to additional community colleges and ongoing evaluations of educational outcomes and student experiences to refine and enhance program effectiveness. By addressing these gaps, CMSP aims to create a more equitable pathway into medicine that aligns with California's health care needs and workforce diversity goals.