Latino Physicians are Needed Now. A New Statewide Coalition is Working to Make That Happen

California is facing a physician shortage and for Latino communities the crisis runs deeper than the numbers suggest. 

More than 11 million Californians already live in areas without enough primary care physicians, and by 2030, the state will need more than 8,200 additional physicians just to meet basic health needs. In the San Joaquin Valley, one of the regions where this shortage is most felt, there are just 47 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents. Across the state, wait times are growing, costs are rising, and families are being left without access to the care they need.

For Latino families, there’s another layer to this story. It’s not just about finding a doctor. It’s also about being able to access representative, culturally congruent healthcare, something that won’t happen without an increase in the number of providers who identify with the communities they’re serving. In a state where Latinos make up over 40% of the population and are projected to become the majority by 2050, only 6.7% of California’s physicians identify as Latina or Latino.

More Doctors for California (MD4CA) was created to close that gap.

Launched on October 1 of 2025, in tandem with the 3rd anniversary of Annual National Latino Physician Day, MD4CA is a statewide coalition of more than 50 partners spanning health systems, universities, community organizations, and subject matter experts committed to expanding existing pathways to becoming a physician in California. Co-Chaired by Martha Santana-Chin, President & CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan and Dr. Hector Flores, Medical Director of Altais Family Care Specialist Medical Group, and LPOC special advisor, the coalition brings together institutional reach and community trust to drive this work forward. MD4CA is dedicated to building the infrastructure, developing the relationships, and increasing the funding available so that California communities have, not just the physicians they need, but also a healthcare workforce that is prepared and representative of the communities being served. 

"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,” said Ms.  Santana-Chin. 

MD4CA’s work centers on four core commitments: protecting and expanding existing pathways, dismantling identified barriers, strengthening partnerships across medical education and health ecosystems, and building clear, navigable pathways from the classroom to clinics. 

For Dr. Flores, the launch of MD4CA is both a professional milestone and a personal call to action, ”This initiative establishes a playbook to invest in human capital across all educational pathways and spark an interest in medical careers so that more aspiring physicians can meet the health care needs of our state."

As a partner in the MD4CA coalition, Latinx Physicians of California (LPOC) is committed to ensuring that the next generation of Latino physicians has the support, visibility, and opportunity they deserve – because our community's health depends on it. Whether you’re a physician in practice, a student just beginning the journey, a professional committed to health equity, or even a community member just learning about these issues, MD4CA is a coalition built with your health in mind. 

Six percent is not a ceiling. It is a starting point we intend to leave far behind. 

Learn more and join the movement at More Doctors for California.