PRIME-LC turns 20

Alumni doctors share their memories of the influential medical education program

tmvasich | Mon, Oct 14, 2024

This fall, the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community welcomed its 20^th class to the UC Irvine School of Medicine. PRIME-LC was revolutionary in medical education; the dual-degree program was the first in the nation to provide a unique medical training experience designed to meet the increasing demand for physicians and public health leaders who could address the distinct needs of Latinos.

Starting with a class of eight, PRIME-LC has graduated 172 students. The tight-knit PRIME-LC family is placing its stamp on healthcare for Latinos in Southern California, and the program has been wildly influential, with the creation of PRIME programs at other UC medical schools, including PRIME LEAD-ABC at UC Irvine.

As we celebrate PRIME-LC’s 20^th anniversary, here are the voices of a few of its distinguished alumni.

Sarah Lopez, M.D., MBA, class of 2009

A member of the first cohort, Lopez is the chief medical officer for Zocalo Health and an assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She’s involved with myriad organizations, including the UCI-OC Alliance, the UC Irvine School of Medicine alumni board, the Paul Merage School of Business Dean’s Leadership Circle, The Wooden Floor, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and GREEN-MPNA.

“PRIME-LC is crucial because it works to address both the disparities in health outcomes among Latino patients and the lack of trust felt by the community. With Latinos making up only 6 percent of all active doctors, there is a gap in culturally relevant care, which can lead to miscommunication, mistrust and poorer health outcomes,” she says. “Programs like PRIME-LC aim to train physicians who understand the unique social, cultural and economic factors affecting Latino communities. This helps create a more diverse physician workforce, and there is data showing that patients do better when they receive care that is linguistically and culturally sensitive, leading to better trust, adherence to treatment and overall outcomes.”

Story: Sarah Lopez’s business skills promote healthcare justice

Marnie Granados, M.D., M.P.P., class of 2010

“One of the biggest gifts PRIME-LC offered me was a community of like-minded students who shared my desire to serve Latino patients.“
– Dr. Marnie Granados

Also a member of the first PRIME-LC cohort, Granados is a primary care pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

“One of the biggest gifts PRIME-LC offered me was a community of like-minded students who shared my desire to serve Latino patients by speaking Spanish and learning more about their particular needs,” she says. “The PRIME-LC program offered many enrichment opportunities too. Here’s one example: During my time as a student, we traveled to Mexico for six weeks before starting our first year. We spent our mornings working alongside Mexican doctors in primary care clinics, and our afternoons were spent studying Spanish and learning about Mexican history. We were so eager to learn. It was an exciting time.”

Marco Angulo, M.D., M.A. (social science), class of 2011

“PRIME-LC gave me the confidence and ability to carry the voices of our communities into every room I walk into as a physician.”
– Dr. Marco Angulo

Angulo is the medical director for the AltaMed Institute for Health Equity.

“PRIME-LC gave me the confidence and ability to carry the voices of our communities into every room I walk into as a physician. The program instilled in me the belief that if we don’t advocate for change, who will? It’s through PRIME-LC that I learned my training wasn’t just about clinical skills. It was about shaping a future where the medically underserved, particularly the Latino community, are seen, heard and cared for,” he says. “PRIME-LC wasn’t just a medical school program; it was a family of like-minded individuals who became my shoulders to cry on and friends to celebrate with. It provided an atmosphere that kept us grounded in our mission of serving underserved communities. Staying connected with colleagues over the years – and sharing patients as we navigate our careers – has been one of the greatest blessings of my journey. What I love most is seeing the next generation of PRIME-LC graduates rise through the ranks and live out the mission we all hold so dear. Many are not just working at places like AltaMed but are running clinics, leading the charge and practicing what they preach. PRIME-LC doesn’t just train physicians; it creates leaders who are committed to changing the landscape of healthcare for the better.”

Story: Marco Angulo: A ‘match’ made in medicine

Brenda Campos-Spitze, M.D., M.P.H., class of 2014

Campos-Spitze is a family physician with Sunrise Community Health in Greeley, Colorado. She’s the director of the Greeley-Evans District 6 school board and a trustee of the University of Northern Colorado. At UNC, she’s also on the advisory board for the planned College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she hopes to recreate PRIME-LC when the college opens in 2026. Her husband, Dr. Bryce Spitze, graduated from UC Irvine’s PRIME-LC program in 2014 too and, like his wife, is a family physician with Sunrise Community Health.

“As part of PRIME-LC, from Day 1, I was introduced to larger-than-life Latinos – legendary Latinos. And I was surrounded by passionate classmates whose hearts beat for the Latino community, just like mine,” she says. “PRIME-LC is important because it instilled in me the belief that just being a Latine physician is not enough. Only 6 percent of all physicians in this country are Latine, and because there are so few of us, we need to not only be bilingual and culturally responsive physicians but also be agents of change, leaders outside our clinics and hospitals. Through PRIME-LC, I was made acutely aware of the power of the white coat and how it can help me not only transform my patients’ lives but transform entire communities.”

Story: Brenda Campos-Spitze and Bryce Spitze: White coats, bright future

Michelle Crespo, M.D., M.P.H., class of 2016

Crespo is a core faculty member for the California Hospital Medical Center family medicine residency program in downtown Los Angeles.

“My PRIME-LC training prepared me for my role as both a physician and an educator by instilling two key principles: First, every patient deserves compassionate, comprehensive care. Second, physicians are empowered to address individual and systemic barriers, especially those affecting Latino patients. Through lectures, Chicano/Latino studies courses, collaboration with advocacy groups, and completing a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health policy and management, I developed a strong foundation in health equity and advocacy. These experiences have shaped how I practice and teach, allowing me to mentor residents and provide care with an emphasis on empathy and cultural humility.”

Over the years, PRIME-LC has appeared in numerous stories, videos and podcasts. Here are several:

PRIME-LC’s first graduating class

Podcasts

Charles Vega and Michelle Crespo: The success of PRIME-LC

Belinda Campos: How Latinos are shaping the future together

Stories

The 2004 announcement of first PRIME-LC class

Prime time: Pioneering medical education program bridges cultural divide

Bringing hope and health to Duroville (with video)

Carla Vazquez Vergara: A journey rooted in community and purpose

Karla Lozano: Different journeys, same destination

Yelennia Palacios: Graduation days