The Family Medicine Bridging the Gap UCLA Pipeline Project partners the Family Medicine Residency Program with high schools in the underserved communities that the residency serves. The program aims to build interest in the field of medicine and primary care, provide skills development, and foster leadership in this highly motivated but at-risk student population.
The residents visit each high school on a monthly basis and lead interactive sessions that cover a variety of topics ranging from discussions on the Social Determinants of Health, to the Basics of Financing an Education. Interactive medical cases where the students learn basic anatomy, physical exam skills, and other clinical skills are built into our sessions.
The High Schools are located just blocks from where our Mid-Valley Comprehensive Health Center county clinic is located. Our Pipeline Project allows us to bring role models, medical education, and skills-building experiences to underserved and underrepresented students. By fostering life and leadership skills, our goal is to promote matriculation and retention in higher education and the health sciences, and to develop student leaders that will ultimately become primary care physician leaders serving the underserved communities they grew up in.