Ariela Bolanos knows too well the social and economic barriers that keep people like her from studying medicine. After moving to the United States from Nicaragua at age 15, Bolanos worked hard to navigate a new language and academic culture – not to mention the need to care for her mother, who became ill in 2018 – in hopes of one day becoming a doctor. But when the time came to apply for medical school, she was told in no uncertain terms to give up on her dreams.
“Someone who had mentored me in college, and whose words I valued, told me that my sole opportunity to go to medical school was due to my gender and skin color,” Bolanos shared. “His words were a blow, but they did not break me. Today, I am still trying to pursue my medical career.”
Bolanos is not alone. With California facing a severe shortage of primary care physicians, biases and financial hurdles in highly competitive medical school admissions processes too often discourage young people from becoming doctors in and around the communities they represent. In a state where Latinos account for 39% of the total population, for example, they make up just 6% of physicians.
“There is a flawed idea of what a traditional medical student is – whether that has to do with age, background or access to resources – and everyone else has to overcome additional obstacles to prove that they belong,” said Dr. Deepthi Nair, who runs UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Extension’s pre-med postbaccalaureate program. “Our program helps students navigate those obstacles not just so they can become great applicants, but so they can become great M.D.s.”
Launched in 2019, the program is one of several initiatives nationwide that aim to expand the country’s pool of potential doctors by providing students with tools to make their medical school applications more competitive. At UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, that includes career counseling, mentorship and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prep. The program also includes a curriculum of accredited courses in everything from biology, genetics and math to physics and psychology offered online through a partnership with UCLA Extension. That collaboration, Nair said, was fundamental in getting the program off the ground.
“UCLA Extension had courses already in their catalog that we didn’t have, so it was a natural fit for our students,” Nair said. “Trying to develop those courses directly would have potentially taken years, and given how badly the state needs new doctors, that’s time we don’t have.”
That time crunch is especially acute in the rural communities surrounding the UCSC campus. Along California’s Central Coast, there are just 50 primary care physicians for every 100,000 people, well below the 60-80 physicians recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services. In the nearby San Joaquin Valley, the number is just 39.
Given that context, the program aims to give students with the drive and talent to succeed in medical school the opportunity to do just that, no matter where in California they live, said Sid Sreekaram, program director for health sciences and sciences at UCLA Extension.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to support the broader UC community,” said Sreekaram. “These are statewide challenges that require statewide solutions, and we’re grateful to see UCLA Extension play a key part in these students’ success.”
One of those students is Bolanos herself. After earning her bachelor’s degree and starting a career in biotechnology, Bolanos signed up for the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension program last year – despite the so-called advice she was given in college.
So far, it’s a perfect fit. Having spent most of her academic life as a straight-A student, Bolanos’ GPA fell while she was caring for her mother. The UCLA Extension coursework has given her the chance to boost her academic record. More than that, though, Bolanos said she has found in the program – and in Nair specifically – a perspective that takes the totality of her experience as a student and a professional into account.
“My skin color will never define who I am,” Bolanos said. “Dr. Deepthi actually listened to my story and tried to understand where I was coming from. She’s been so influential for me in such a positive way.”
As she prepares to take the MCAT and apply for medical schools next year, Bolanos continues to work for a biotech firm in the Bay Area, researching subjects like cell therapy and neuroscience. She’s enrolled in two UCLA Extension courses this fall. The program, she says, allows her to have a professional and personal life without giving up on her dream. She hopes to eventually earn both an M.D. and a Ph.D., continuing to conduct lab research while also working in a clinic to provide care for her community.
“So many people, and especially Hispanic women, they don’t visit the doctor because they are afraid of the bill,” Bolanos said. “Finding ways for people to be treated for free or at low cost, that’s what I want to be a part of. Becoming a doctor isn’t about the money, it’s about the care.”
This article is adapted from the UCLAx fall 2024 issue.
