A Different Path to Medical School and Rubbing Shoulders With Some of California’s Most Powerful Politicians

By Jesse D. Garcia

NEARING MIDNIGHT, ON NOV. 10, 2018, ASHES showered the city of Chico as Paradise, California, continued to burn. Shoulder-to-shoulder, displaced men, women, and children huddled for warmth on the frigid floor of the East Avenue Church Evacuation Center, days after fires had destroyed their homes. I learned true fear here, as I witnessed emotions cripple good people, and sat helpless, at a loss for words, while so many endured unmedicated suffering. Though in a matter of days, military and local medical personnel took control of the situation; and as the momentum of the Camp Fire subsided, I was able to reflect on the work I’d done and began to give serious thought to a career in medicine.

At 19, and as an entry-level EMT, I half-expected the evacuation center to be a fast-paced, technical environment teeming with providers. Instead, what I walked into was a church gymnasium full of heartbroken people, and a team of locals doing their best to relieve the crushing heartache. I can still recall the eyes of countless survivors searching my face for a semblance of hope — it was an all too familiar look of vulnerability, a longing gaze I’d given doctors in the past. Collectively, these memories, and those that followed, serve as reminders of why I chose to enter a coalition of individuals equipped with the wisdom and collaborative spirit necessary to remedy society’s corporal and emotional needs.

However, lacking ties to healthcare and having hardly left my rural hometown, the idea of becoming a physician had always felt far-fetched. My sisters and I were raised in Colusa — a small, agricultural town north of Sacramento — by our parents, both first-gen trailblazers and children of Mexican immigrants. After graduating from my public high school in a senior class of 60 kids, I chose to attend California State University, Chico. While at Chico, I met dedicated faculty, worked alongside brilliant physicians, and was inspired by community leaders. After four transformative years I found myself completely invested in the wellness and restoration of my community. Doing so awarded me the opportunity to appreciate the life-changing effects and county-wide impacts afforded by outreach and advocacy. On the other hand, these experiences exposed me to the inequities that exist within our healthcare system; including, but not limited to, poor reimbursement, recidivism rates, insufficient coverage, housing shortage, food insecurity, and general barriers when seeking care. All of which contributed to an increased interest in the economics and politics that shape our healthcare system, and the nature and quality of care it delivers.

Despite Chico State not being a pre-med catering institution, I found myself applying to medical school, and was blessed with the opportunity to be part of UCSD School of Medicine’s 2026 class and the PRIME Health Equity cohort. During my first quarter, it just happened to be that Anesthesiology 223, Health Policy, Politics, and Leadership was being offered by Dr. Robert Hertzka. An eight-week long, 1–5 p.m.

Monday elective that, arguably, became the highlight of my afternoons. Dr. Hertzka is a larger-than-life individual with an unrivaled personality and oneof-a-kind charisma. On top of exposing our class to the U.S. healthcare system, we learned from accomplished physicians and politicians, such as Senator Dr. Richard Pan, Assemblywoman Dr. Akilah Weber, CMA CEO Dustin Corcoran, SDCMS President Dr. Toluwalase Ajayi, Dr. Valencia Walker, Dr. Jess Mandel, and San Diego County Board of Supervisors chair Nora Vargas. Believe it or not, we even underwent media training and had the privilege to meet Paul Hegyi, SDCMS CEO. Overall, a remarkable and unexpected experience unique to UCSD; one compounded by our recent class trip to the state Capitol.

Waking up, showering, donning the good ’ol med school Zoom blazer, and heading south on the 5, all to snag a Sheraton bus headed toward Terminal

1 for a 6 a.m. flight made for an interesting Tuesday morning. Like something out of a movie, within 10 minutes of stepping onto NorCal soil, we were huddled together by Dr. Hertzka for an airport selfie with former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Assemblymembers Mike Fong and Wendy Carrillo. By 9 a.m. our group, accompanied by Dr. Holly Yang, made its way to our first meeting with the VP of government affairs for CMA, Stuart Thompson, who discussed several priority bills. Without missing a beat, our day continued and consist- ed of walking to and from the Capitol, an off-site swing space, and the CMA HQ all within beautiful downtown Sacramento. Never in my life did I expect to meet, let alone discuss ongoing policy with a legislator. Thanks to Dr. Hertzka and CMA, this fantasy was fulfilled tenfold. We were hosted and informed by Assemblymembers Blanca Pacheco, James Gallagher, and Brian Maienschein, and State Senators Catherine Blakespear and Toni Atkins. Marjorie Swartz and Diane Griffiths, senior staff of Senator Atkins, were generous enough to share their insights on women’s health, and the challenges that exist within and outside of our state. For lunch, Physicians for a Healthy California President and CEO Lupe Alonzo Diaz presented on student loan repayment programs paid out of Prop 56, and shared heartwarming stories regarding said programs. In addition, Assemblymember Chris Ward took time out of his day to give us a Capitol tour and discussed current projects on his desk. And, as luck would have it, we met again with Dr. Akilah Weber, who asked us — all first-year medical students — what we hope to see discussed and acted on by our state legislature. Fatigue was setting in by 5 p.m., but spirits were lifted at dinner with burgers, boos, and Mountain Dew. By 9 p.m. we were homebound, most of us reminiscent but dreading our 8 a.m. Wednesday neuro case study and quiz.

My introduction into organized medicine could not have been more impressionable. To begin the life-long journey of unraveling our complex healthcare system, I chose to take Dr. Hertzka’s fall class, a decision that has enriched my education at UCSD in an unmatched sort of way. Through his mentorship, I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent UCSD as a delegate at CMA and AMA events. Most recently, I was invited to attend SDCMS’s retreat in Palm Springs; where, among very accomplished professionals, I was met with open arms and friendship. Words cannot express my gratitude. From Colusa to Chico, and now, med school in San Diego; more than ever, I look forward to what life has in store.

Jesse Garcia is a MS1 in UCSD School of Medicine’s 2026 class and Master’s PRIME Health Equity candidate. He was raised in Colusa, Calif., and acquired his bachelor of science degree in microbiology from California State University, Chico. He is currently interested in helping bridge the gaps of care within the adolescent and young adult populations, through means of exceptional clinical practice, translational science, and engagement within organized medicine.