News

Community college students from across Northern California spent two weeks at the UC Davis School of Medicine this summer practicing clinical skills, connecting with physicians and medical students, and gaining a firsthand look at careers in medicine through AvenueM. From learning suturing and CPR to exploring trauma care and physical exams, the immersive experience helped students build the knowledge, confidence and relationships needed to pursue medical school.

The UC Davis School of Medicine recently honored faculty members and interdisciplinary teams with its 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in education, mentoring, research, clinical care, inclusion and team excellence.

For many students in Siskiyou County, college can often feel more like an aspiration than a plan.

As one of California’s northern-most counties anchored by Mount Shasta, the rural town is filled with many first-generation students, and limited opportunities for youth to explore careers firsthand or see what the journey from high school to college might actually look like.

A new essay in the UC Davis Law Review by Distinguished Professor of Law Raquel Aldana explores the evolution of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and the role they play in advancing educational equity.

After more than 24 years of advancing health equity and belonging, Dr. Hendry Ton, associate vice chancellor for Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence (HEDI) will retire on Oct. 1. Through his leadership within the broader division, UC Davis Inclusive Excellence, health equity became more deeply embedded in the institution’s culture, programs and partnerships, creating a foundation that will continue to shape work for years to come.  

When Avenue M student Jessica de Laguna opened her MCAT score, years of work suddenly felt uncertain. After returning to school in her 30s and completing demanding science coursework, she had fallen short of the score she hoped for.

"I got a 490," she recalled. "So I have to retake it again."

For a student who had spent years battling imposter syndrome, it would have been easy to see the score as the end of the road. Instead, someone at UC Davis saw something else.