Health care is one of the largest industries in our nation; however there is a shortage of culturally competent, experiential and linguistically skilled health professionals. In order to meet the growing demand for a diverse health workforce, an effort must be made to engage and support disadvantaged and underrepresented (URM) students in community colleges. Community colleges serve as the primary gateway to post secondary education for a large segment of diverse, low income and first generation students and will grow to become a primary gateway for upwards of 25% of middle-class traditional-aged students. California leads the nation in physicians retained from undergraduate medical education (62% statewide and 68% from UC System); and is ranked second in the country in physicians retained from graduate medical education (69%); our state and county are positioned as leaders in resolving the shortage of diverse healthcare professionals. By increasing not only the pipeline but also the persistence rate of undergraduate Disadvantaged and URM community college students who wish to pursue biomedical, behavioral or bioscience careers, we can begin to eliminate health disparities in our region by developing qualified health professionals who will most likely be retained in California and remain to work in San Diego HPSAs and MUAs.
Numerous studies have shown the first year of college serves as the critical juncture for defining perceptions of academic capability and career choice yet; many students lack an understanding of how to succeed in college or set career goals. ULMSP is the only program in San Diego County that specifically supports the persistence needs of Disadvantaged and URM community college transfer students who want to pursue behavioral, biomedical and health sciences careers. During ULMSP’s 14-year history, we have worked with transfer students who enter local four-year universities to improve meta-cognitive skills, increase mentor networks, and provide advisement on career options. Our direct interventions are designed to increase academic skills and understanding of scientific career culture, ensuring educationally disadvantaged students do not hit a career ceiling early in their academic life.
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Numerous studies have shown the first year of college serves as the critical juncture for defining perceptions of academic capability and career choice yet; many students lack an understanding of how to succeed in college or set career goals. ULMSP is the only program in San Diego County that specifically supports the persistence needs of Disadvantaged and URM community college transfer students who want to pursue behavioral, biomedical and health sciences careers. During ULMSP’s 14-year history, we have worked with transfer students who enter local four-year universities to improve meta-cognitive skills, increase mentor networks, and provide advisement on career options. Our direct interventions are designed to increase academic skills and understanding of scientific career culture, ensuring educationally disadvantaged students do not hit a career ceiling early in their academic life.
Learn more about our curriculum
