UC Santa Cruz

Future physicians: Your path starts here. Applications are now open for UC Programs in Medical Education Central Coast (PRIME Central Coast)!

A powerful partnership between University of California, Santa Cruz and UC Davis School of Medicine, this unique medical program trains future physicians directly within the Central Coast.

PRIME is helping to address the growing shortage of primary care doctors in California. Because most physicians practice near where they train, PRIME Central Coast is a "grow-your-own" initiative: recruiting local talent, training them in area hospitals, and keeping them local to close the gap.

The initiative recently received additional state funding supported by , and the inaugural cohort begins in 2027. If you're a future physician committed to health equity, apply to UC Davis School of Medicine before the October 1 deadline via AMCAS! Instructions of how to apply are in the link in the comments.

📸 Image description: Photo of smiling med students in white coats having a conversation outside on a sunny day. Text on the image reads: “Join the next generation of doctors serving the Central Coast. Apply now.” UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis Health School of Medicine logos are in the bottom right corner.

Back to the forests, back to the memories!

Return to the Redwoods is your time to catch up with old friends, stay in the dorms with your family, and connect with your inner Banana Slug while rediscovering our beautiful campus. The weekend will be jam-packed with events, including interactive workshops and scenic trail walks for you to relax and have fun.

All UC Santa Cruz alumni, family, and friends are invited this August 14-16, 2026. Whether you are a new graduate or celebrating a major reunion milestone, these three days are packed with wonderful ways to celebrate!

California’s rich biodiversity is facing unprecedented pressure from climate change and habitat loss. A vital sanctuary for rare species, a hub for critical seed banking, and a living classroom for the next generation of environmental leaders, UC Santa Cruz Arboretum's Native Plant Program is on the front lines in the effort to protect California's botanical heritage.
Every gift this program receives directly funds:

• Student Experiential Learning: Training the future botanists, ecologists, and conservation leaders who will inherit these climate challenges.
• A Living Classroom: Stewarding a beautiful place of refuge, research, and public education for the entire community.
• Rare Plant Seed Banking: Protecting rare and endangered species from extinction.

Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you give now will be matched 1:1 up to $25,000! Head to the link in the comments to double your impact today and help us train the leaders of tomorrow.

Time to rewind back to the 60's at UC Santa Cruz. 👀🎥🎶

📸 Images Courtesy of UC Santa Cruz Special Collections

“Watching our alumni go on to create meaningful change in their communities and through their careers is at the heart of what CEJA does.” - Heather Bullock (CEJA Faculty Director, Professor of Psychology, and Incoming Dean of Social Sciences)

Undergraduate and graduate students research alumni of the Center for Economic Justice and Action have carried their experiences at UC Santa Cruz into impactful careers in academia, public policy, and social change work. Since its founding in 2014, CEJA has grown into a leading hub for community-engaged anti-poverty research focused on issues of housing insecurity, food access, and economic equity. Through paid internships, research assistantships, and collaborative projects with local organizations, CEJA provides students with the skills and lived understanding needed to address real-world challenges facing underserved communities.

David Amaral (Ph.D. ’22, politics) is the director of research and evaluation at nonprofit All Home, where he draws on his experience working on a food security study in Santa Cruz County.

Melina Singh (Ph.D. ’23, psychology) is an assistant professor, with research on housing insecurity and student well-being informing her continued work in diversity science.

Desiree Ryan (Ph.D. ’24, psychology) is an assistant professor at San Jose State University, with research supporting students' basic needs and navigating difficult situations.

Rosalie Lansing (Rachel Carson ’24, sociology) works at the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments on housing and homelessness programs, building on her research on affordable housing for low-income communities.

Across their journeys, powerful change is built through deep commitment to public service and social equity. CEJA’s legacy continues with students, alumni, and partners working to advance economic justice in California and beyond.