The University of California locations at Berkeley and San Francisco are paired in a Joint Medical Program (JMP), meaning that their Schools of Public Health and Medicine are partnered. The initial three years of study are completed on the Berkeley campus; the final two years, consisting of clinical clerkships, are done in San Francisco. In 2010, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of California San Fransisco as the No. 4 best medical research university and No. 5 best primary medical university in the United States.
The Davis School of Medicine was founded in 1966, and UC Merced, as of 2011, is conducting research that will eventually lead to a medical program of its own. The Santa Cruz campus is not affiliated with any medical school.
The University of California, Los Angeles is home to the Geffen School of Medicine, and Irvine hosts its own medical school, as well. The Riverside campus is formulating plans for a new school of medicine, while the UC San Diego medical school is well established. UC Santa Barbara offers a program on the history of science, technology, and medicine but no medical school.
There are five health centers operated by the University of California network; located in Los Angeles, San Diego, Davis, Irvine and San Francisco. These patient care sites work in conjunction with the teaching programs at the various schools of medicine located throughout the state. Emerging diagnostic techniques are tested at their research facilities and all locations offer a comprehensive set of care services.
There is no larger network of health and medical programs than the University of California system. Its collection of campuses each year houses 14,000 students, who are enrolled in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other associated areas of study. It is consistently lauded for its cutting-edge research and health practices. The University of California is a popular destination for many students who wish to study and practice medicine.