More Latino Doctors.
More Access. 

A Healthier California.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), together with more than 30 coalition partners across health systems, education, and community organizations, is proud to launch More Doctors for California (MD4CA). This statewide campaign will expand the physician pipeline to train the next generation of Latino talent and demand overdue investment in the current and future health of all Californians.

California is running out of physicians, and the shortage has already reached crisis levels. More than 11 million Californians live in areas without enough primary care physicians, and by 2030 the state will need more than 8,200 additional physicians to meet basic health needs. In the San Joaquin Valley, the shortage is among the worst in the state, with just 47 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents. Patients are facing long waits for appointments, costs are rising statewide, and health disparities are deepening as access to basic healthcare hangs in the balance.

“The physician shortage is more than a workforce challenge, it’s a public health and economic crisis that impacts families every day. More Doctors for California is a historic effort to expand the physician pipeline, advance equity, and strengthen our economy. Most importantly, it’s about ensuring every community has access to the care they need to thrive.”

SECIAH AQUINO, DRPH, MS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LATINO COALITION FOR A HEALTHY CALIFORNIA (LCHC)

For Latino communities, the impact is especially clear. Latinos make up nearly 40% of California’s population and are projected to become the majority by 2050. Yet they represent just 6.7% of California’s physicians. This shortage means fewer doctors who share language and cultural understanding with their patients, leading to worse health outcomes and eroded trust in care. This gap not only harms Latino families, it weakens California’s entire healthcare system and economy.

“When patients can see doctors who speak their language and understand their culture, health outcomes improve. Expanding the diversity of California’s physician workforce isn’t just about equity, it’s about saving lives.”

LUPE ALONZO-DÍAZ
PRESIDENT, PHYSICIANS FOR A HEALTHY CALIFORNIA

That’s why the More Doctors for California (MD4CA) campaign is reshaping California’s medical workforce by:

• Protecting and expanding existing pathways to become a physician.
• Removing barriers that keep Latino and underrepresented students from becoming physicians.
• Partnering with schools, colleges, and medical institutions to expand opportunities.
• Building clear pathways from classrooms to clinics, so California communities have the physicians they need.

"When we remove barriers for Latino and underrepresented students to become doctors, we don’t just change careers, we change communities, outcomes, and the trajectory of California’s healthcare system."

MARTHA SANTANA-CHIN,
CEO, L.A. CARE HEALTH PLAN

With a GDP of more than $1 trillion, Latinos power California’s economy, helping make it the fourth largest in the world. If California hopes to remain the world’s fourth largest economy, it must invest in Latino health and the Latino physician workforce. Ensuring more Latinos become physicians strengthens care for every community and secures the state’s economic future.

That’s why More Doctors for California (MD4CA) is calling on policymakers, education systems, and health leaders to act now. Without urgent investment in California’s physician pipeline, access to care will continue to erode, deepening inequities for Latino and other underrepresented communities across the state.

“A physician workforce that mirrors California’s diversity isn't just a goal, it's a clinical necessity for improving health outcomes. The critical shortage of Latino physicians undermines trust and connection for too many families. Investing in clear pathways for Latino students to enter medicine is fundamental to building a more equitable and effective health system for all Californians.”

KATHRYN E. PHILLIPS, MPH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION

Learn more and join the campaign by visiting www.moredoctorsforcalifornia.com and following along on social media using the hashtags #MoreDoctorsforCA and #MásDoctoresParaCA.

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Media Contact:
More Doctors for California
alps@lchc.org‍

Media kit available upon request.

This campaign is led by the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, which you can learn more about here.