UC Merced Launches SJV PRIME Program to Address Central California Healthcare Workforce Shortage
UC Merced has introduced the San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Central California. The program aims to train local students to become doctors who will serve the region. Samneet Deol, a third-year student inspired by her father, a nurse practitioner, is among those enrolled. The program is a collaboration between UC Merced, UC San Francisco, and UCSF Fresno, and is the first BS-to-MD program in the area. It focuses on recruiting high school students from Central California. Dr. Margo Vener, chair of the Department of Medical Education at UC Merced, oversees the program, which emphasizes local mentorship. Construction of a new Medical Education Building is underway, expected to open by fall 2026, with a projected cost of $300 million. 
