PRIDE Program About Us Curriculum & Training RAPS Curriculum Message from the Directors Program Leadership Application Information Contact Us About Us Home About Campus & Community Resources Communications & Public Relations Office PRIDE Program > About Us Vision To develop the next generation of physician-leaders who are committed to public service, social justice and advocacy within LGBTQ+ communities. Mission To uplift and support medical students in their pre-clinical and clinical training years and beyond as they become medical professionals capable of caring for the LGBTQ+ community and mentoring future generations of physicians to follow in their footsteps. Why We Exist Some medical schools report less than five hours of training dedicated to LGBTQ+ healthcare in their entire curriculum, implying that training is insufficient for physicians to feel comfortable addressing the multifaceted needs of this diverse community. The Healthcare Gap Many healthcare professionals feel inadequately prepared to meet the needs of individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, potentially contributing to healthcare disparities for the community. The National Institutes of Health highlight significant healthcare disparities and unmet research needs for this community, and advocacy groups present concerning data on poor healthcare access, healthcare outcomes, physician attitudes and patient experiences among community members. Risks and Patient Experiences The Kaiser Family Foundation noted that the LGBTQ+ community is at extreme risk for health disparities, including poorer health and more chronic and disabling medical conditions. LGBTQ+ patients are more likely to report negative clinician experiences and being treated unfairly by a medical professional. This leads to decreased use of the healthcare system for regular checkups, increased emergency room visits, delays in diagnosis and care and higher out-of-pocket costs for patients. We see reduced patient satisfaction, lowered engagement in preventative and curative care and poor mental health outcomes. These disparities continue to worsen for transgender patients. Why Choose the PRIDE Program The PRIDE Program is the first of its kind medical school initiative focused on LGBTQ+ healthcare. Our goal is to prepare students to understand and meet the needs of this community through intensive training and mentoring focused on leadership, community advocacy, research and education. We work closely with multiple LGBTQ+ organizations, community partners and healthcare leaders to ensure students are prepared for high-level career opportunities. Choosing UC Irvine and the PRIDE Program offers the opportunity to learn in an environment that understands your goals and needs, centering you in your training. If you are interested in exploring your intersectional identities, reflecting on your motivations for entering healthcare, discovering the power and confidence of your authentic self and revolutionizing bedside practice through evidence-based learning, then please join us. We are excited to be part of your journey. Training Future Physician Leaders Our future physicians take additional training in leadership, communication, research, education, quality improvement, advocacy and health equity. Using the knowledge and skills they learn through our dedicated curriculum, PRIDE Program students enter leadership positions capable of effecting systemic changes. Program Origins & Institutional Backing Supported by a gift from the UniHealth Foundation and a strategic investment from the UC Irvine School of Medicine Dean's Office, the PRIDE Program was founded in 2026 by Ronnie Rivera, MD, MSEd, and Cristobal Barrios, MD. Through this foundational support, the School of Medicine established the PRIDE Program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities to change our approach to LGBTQ+ healthcare education and delivery. "Born from my own experiences as a patient and a desire to give back to my community, we collaborated with patients, students and field experts to develop a robust training program and recruited like-minded faculty, including Co-Director Cristobal Barrios, MD, to bring the PRIDE Program to life. As UC Irvine’s fifth mission-based program, PRIDE is designed for medical students who aspire to become leaders in addressing disparities in LGBTQ+ healthcare." -Ronnie Rivera, MD, MSEd, Program Director