Vanessa Mora Molina, a native of Fowler, California, grew up in a small farming town in the San Joaquin Valley where access to basic medical care was often limited. Despite these challenges, Mora will be graduating this June with her M.D. from one of UC’s six medical schools, along with over 700 other medical students.
Mora and many of her fellow graduates have participated in the UC PRIME program, which offers specialized classwork and training to prepare future physicians to serve underserved communities in the state. Through this program, doctors are equipped to address the lack of healthcare access in regions known as “health care deserts,” where language and cultural barriers often hinder effective care delivery.
Dr. Katherine Flores, a family medicine physician who mentored Mora at a clinic in Fresno, emphasized the importance of having doctors who not only practice in a community but also understand its unique needs and challenges. She highlighted the significance of recruiting medical students from the Valley who can relate to the culture and circumstances of the residents they serve.
In an interview with UC Newsroom, Mora spoke about how her experience growing up in an underserved community has shaped her passion for medicine and desire to serve those communities that need it most. She said that she hopes to continue practicing medicine in California after completing her residency training and make a meaningful impact on improving healthcare access for all Californians.
