As the Center for Reducing Health Disparities marks its twentieth anniversary, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola reflects on the work that has shaped CRHD over two decades: from research and community partnerships to contributions that have helped influence national approaches to meaningful community engagement. With 56 grants and awards and more than $56 million invested, CRHD’s work has centered on a question that remains at the heart of its mission: how can institutions advance health and mental health equity with historically underserved communities through genuine community engagement?

The Campus Community Book Project enters its 25th year with On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, Timothy Snyder’s guide to recognizing and resisting the forces that can erode democracy. The 2017 book will anchor this year’s campus conversations around civil liberties, with discussions and events continuing throughout the academic year and culminating in Snyder’s March 15, 2027, visit to the Mondavi Center.

Three UC Davis Health researchers have received state funding to advance precision medicine and expand access to data-driven care. Luis Carvajal-Carmona received $1.7 million through the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine’s Representative Research Partnerships Program, while M.D./Ph.D. students Joseph Morrison and Nikita Mohapatra received funding through the initiative’s inaugural Next-Gen Representative Research Program.

The Campus Community Book Project is inviting nominations for books that fit its 2027–28 theme, “Futures and Technologies.” The selected book will anchor a year of activities exploring developments such as artificial intelligence and questions of ethics, accessibility and privacy, culminating in a visit by the author. Nominations are open through September 9.

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.