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PRIME-TIDE

Program in Medical Education - Transforming Indigenous Doctor Education (PRIME-TIDE)

The mission of the PRIME-TIDE program is to prepare medical students for careers focused on providing healthcare to Native populations. This will be accomplished by didactic and experiential training on the specific healthcare needs, cultural context in which that care is provided and how medical research may inform decisions made by healthcare personnel.

Student Profiles

Learn more about our PRIME-TIDE students who are committed to meeting the needs of Native populations.

Meet our Students

Admissions

PRIME-TIDE is an inclusive program designed to build on students’ interests and backgrounds in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations. It is open to all School of Medicine applicants.

Who Should Apply?

Curriculum

PRIME-TIDE offers an enhanced curriculum that includes specific healthcare needs, cultural context in which care is provided, and how medical research may inform decisions made by healthcare personnel.

Learn More

Funding

Matriculated students will receive significant financial support for every year they are in medical school, in addition to the fifth year dedicated to a Master's degree. Funding is available to PRIME-TIDE students — i.e. 1) $20,000 per year, or 2) UC Tuition and Student Services Fee waiver for registered citizens from federally recognized tribes.

group of PRME-TIDE students, faculty and staff at White Coat Ceremony

Goals

  1. Learning appropriate management and treatment of diseases common in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities with a focus on culturally sensitive care. This will be accomplished by the completion of relevant didactic coursework and mentored clinical experiences in tribally operated Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals and ambulatory clinics.
  2. Understanding the historical context for community-based research with AI/AN communities through local, regional or national investigations.
  3. Engagement in preventive medicine and public health in a tribal healthcare setting.
  4. Understanding of social, environmental, economic and political issues related to providing healthcare to tribal communities and limitations/adaptations to the delivery of IHS care.