LOS ANGELES, CA (January 23, 2025)—MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH) is proud to announce a $200,000 grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to support its Graduate Medical Education Program. This generous funding will support a new generation of diverse physicians who are trained through a three-year Internal Medicine Residency and are motivated to practice in South Los Angeles or other underserved communities.
South LA faces a severe shortage of doctors, with a gap of over 1,500 physicians. Without enough doctors in the community, residents often struggle to find primary and specialty care, leading many to rely on emergency rooms for basic healthcare needs. This shortage not only limits access to care but also worsens health outcomes for a population already facing significant social and economic barriers.
The MLKCH Internal Medicine Residency Program recognizes the physician gap by training diverse physicians who reflect and understand the community they serve. Across the US, data show that most physicians practice in the same region where they complete their training, with up to 40% staying within 10 miles of their residencies. Research also indicates that patients have better experiences—and better health outcomes—when their doctors share their racial or ethnic background.
Residents receive hands-on training through partnerships with academic medical centers, including UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai, as well as rotations in MLKCH’s hospital, outpatient clinics, and Street Medicine Department. With a focus on mentorship, interprofessional collaboration, and innovative care, the program ensures residents are well-equipped to address both medical and social determinants of health.
“We are deeply grateful to the Hearst Foundation for their commitment to advancing health equity,” said Dr. John Fisher, Chief Medical Officer at MLKCH. “This grant enables us to continue building a pipeline of talented, compassionate physicians who understand and reflect the communities they serve.”
To learn more about MLKCH’s efforts to train physicians and advance health equity, visit mlkch.org/residency.