California’s San Joaquin Valley faces a critical health workforce shortage that threatens access to care, particularly in its rural and low-income communities. This case study examines how locally led initiatives are addressing these shortages by building culturally responsive, regionally rooted health career pathways. Focusing on two programs—theUniversity of California (UC) San Francisco (UCSF) Fresno’s Raíces in the San Joaquin Valley and HealthForce—this report explores how early exposure, technical support for high school pathways, and community-based mentorship are being used to grow a workforce more likely to serve where they are most needed. These efforts aim to improve not only the supply of health professionals but also equity, diversity, and long-term retention in the San Joaquin Valley. However, while promising, these initiatives face challenges including limited clinical infrastructure, dependence on short-term funding, and structural barriers tied to rural education systems. This study does not offer a universal solution but highlights how tailored, locally driven approaches can better align workforce strategies with community needs and can ultimately improve health outcomes in systematically underserved regions.
