PRIME-LC Nuestra Familia Admissions Curriculum Alumni FAQs Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) The PRIME-LC program at UCI School of Medicine is a five-year MD/Master’s program committed to training physicians to meet the needs of under-resourced Latino communities. Home Education Medical Education PRIME-LC Creating Leaders and Physician Activists The UCI Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) is a five-year, dual-degree program designed to create leaders and physician-activists who will work in underserved Latino communities. PRIME-LC accomplishes this mission through a combination of immersion experiences in both Mexico and Southern California with: Coursework led by a committed group of faculty from the UCI School of Medicine as well as the School of Social Sciences Collaboration with advocacy groups and community leaders focused on contemporary issues affecting Latino communities Advanced degree coursework and community projects designed to transform these medical students’ concepts of health and leadership PRIME-LC students work with various community organizations and clinics, including: Christ Cathedral Food Bank, Centro Cultural de Mexico, Madison Park Neighborhood Association, Latino Health Access, UCI Student Outreach Clinic, UCI Harm Reduction Institute (Needle exchange program) and Angeles de la Frontera. Planning for PRIME-LC began in 2001, and we enrolled our first cohort of students in 2004. Since 2004, we have established a residency track for PRIME-LC in the UCI Department of Family Medicine. Nuestra Familia Admissions Curriculum Alumni FAQs The Founding of PRIME-LC PRIME-LC was founded in 2004 by Dr. Alberto Manetta, MD, whose vision was to establish a comprehensive medical education program focused on training future physician-leaders to provide compassionate, patient-centered healthcare to underserved Latino communities. University of California President Dr. Michael Drake, then Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of California Office of the President, was an invaluable supporter in the development of PRIME-LC. Our graduates are now working toward achieving one of our most important goals: to create a network of physician-activists and leaders across the state of California — all working in different yet interconnected ways to reduce healthcare disparities for Latino patients, particularly Latino immigrants. Our students have already accomplished some remarkable things in their time here. The establishment of PRIME-LC has enriched our campus and our larger community, and I hope that you are as excited as I am about this tremendous program! -Charles P. Vega, MD Director, PRIME-LC Program News Mar 11, 2024 | UCI News A match made in heaven Features & Briefs UCI School of Medicine Medical Education PRIME-LC HEAL-IM Jun 05, 2023 | HigherEdJobs How One University System is Tackling Healthcare Accessibility for the Underserved In the News UCI School of Medicine Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment (DEI) PRIME LEAD-ABC PRIME-LC Sep 16, 2022 | UCI News UCI Podcast: The success of PRIME-LC Features & Briefs UCI School of Medicine PRIME-LC View All News Events There are no upcoming events. View All Events Support Our Students The PRIME-LC Dr. Alberto Manetta Service Award was established to provide scholarship funding to PRIME-LC students who have not only demonstrated leadership with PRIME-LC, but also developed and led an exemplary service project in support of the program's mission. With your support, we can continue to recognize the extraordinary talent and dedication of our students who are committed to improving healthcare delivery, research and policy for California’s underserved Latino communities. Make a gift Contact Us Questions? View answers to frequently asked questions about our PRIME-LC program. For more information, please contact us at 949-824-7136or primelc@uci.edu. UCI School of Medicine PRIME-LC Medical Education Building 836 Health Sciences Road Irvine, CA 92697-4089