Sen. McNerney and Asm. Ransom Secure $2 Million in State Funding for University of Pacific Medical School
State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, have secured $2 million in state funding for the planned School of Medicine at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
The funding was included AB 113, budget legislation approved today by the state Legislature. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the budget bill in the coming days.
“Physician shortages and barriers to accessing health care are impacting families across our region. Our communities need more doctors and greater opportunities for students from the Central Valley to pursue a medical education,” Sen. McNerney said. “I was proud to partner with Assemblymember Ransom to secure this much-needed state funding for University of the Pacific’s proposed School of Medicine.”
“I’m proud to help deliver this win to bring more doctors to our region. Right now, we have just 47 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents, and families across the Central Valley are waiting too long or traveling too far to get the care they need. We cannot accept that as the status quo,” Asm. Ransom said. “That’s why securing this state investment to help bring a medical school to Stockton matters so much. We’re building a pipeline of physicians who will train here, understand our communities, and the unique challenges Central Valley families face.”
"We are tremendously grateful to Sen. McNerney and Asm. Ransom for championing this project in the Legislature,” said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “Their support is invaluable as we work together to address the dangerous health care disparities in the region through the creation of the Pacific School of Medicine. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them on this transformational initiative, which will create practice-ready physicians who are prepared to serve our local communities.”
A medical school in Stockton would strengthen the local physician pipeline, expand community-based clinical training, and support longer term workforce retention in San Joaquin County and the surrounding areas.
According to University of Pacific, an essential centerpiece of the new School of Medicine is a strategic clinical partnership with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton. Under the partnership, Dignity Health will place medical school students from Pacific in clinical rotations at St. Joseph’s and other hospitals across the region.
Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, and his 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.
Asm. Rhodesia Ransom is chair of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, and her 13th Assembly District includes the cities of Stockton, Tracy, and Mountain House.
