PRIME-LC Nuestra Familia Admissions Curriculum FAQs Contact Us Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) The PRIME-LC program at the UC Irvine School of Medicine is a five-year MD/Master’s program dedicated to preparing physicians to address the health needs of under-resourced Latino communities through comprehensive medical education, community engagement and leadership development training. Home Education Medical Education Mission-Based Programs PRIME-LC Creating Leaders and Physician Activists The UC Irvine Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) is a dual-degree, mission-based 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 Latin America and California with: Coursework led by a committed group of faculty from the UC Irvine 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: Madison Park Neighborhood Association, Latino Health Access, UCI Clinica Cariño, OC LGBT Center, AltaMed, UCI Harm Reduction Institute (Needle exchange program) and Angeles de la Frontera. Nuestra Familia Admissions Curriculum FAQs Contact Us The Founding of PRIME-LC PRIME-LC was founded in 2004 by 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 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. Since our founding, we have expanded our mission-based program efforts to include a PRIME-LC residency track within the UC Irvine Department of Family Medicine. 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. 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 Fifth Annual National Latino Physician Day: Necesitamos Más UCI School of Medicine PRIME-LC Medical Education Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment (DEI) Medical Education News & Events Medical Education UCI School of Medicine HEAL-IM PRIME LEAD-ABC PRIME-LC — Education — Medical Education News & Events Medical Education UCI School of Medicine HEAL-IM PRIME LEAD-ABC PRIME-LC — Education — View All News Events There are no upcoming events. View Past Events Support Our Students We invite you to shape the next generation of physician-leaders dedicated to advancing care in Latino communities. Your generosity reduces financial barriers for aspiring doctors while enabling meaningful, hands-on experiences in underserved areas — an impact that extends far beyond the classroom. Make a gift