I’m pleased to share the latest update on the UCR School of Medicine’s ambitious and exciting curricular enhancement initiative.

As you know, since 2025 we’ve been working diligently to re-imagine our curriculum to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead and to ensure our students are not only prepared for today’s healthcare landscape but also ready to lead in tomorrow’s. We are aligning our program with the latest research, evolving healthcare needs, and evidence-based practices to ensure every UCR medical student graduates ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and communities. Some of these transformative elements are already being piloted, while others are under active development. Together, they represent an exciting new chapter in UCR SOM’s ongoing mission to shape the future of healthcare in Inland Southern California and beyond.

We recently held a contest to name the curricular enhancement initiative and I’m excited to share the winning name that has been selected by the voting committee.

EVOLVE: Expanding Vision. Optimizing Learning. Valuing Excellence.

Moving forward, UCR School of Medicine’s enhanced, forward-looking curriculum designed to equip students for real-world impact will be referred to as the EVOLVE Curriculum. Nestled within the EVOLVE acronym is a bold statement that reflects the direction we’re taking with our curriculum, “Expanding Vision. Optimizing Learning. Valuing Excellence.” As the field of medicine continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, so too must the way we educate the next generation of physicians. The EVOLVE Curriculum, rooted in the four pillars of medicine – the basic sciences, behavioral sciences, clinical sciences, and health systems sciences - reflects our commitment to innovation, equity, and excellence in medical education. We are incredibly grateful to Kenneth Chiu, 2nd Year MPH student, for submitting this creative name for our enhanced curriculum.

To go along with this creative name, we’ve developed a visual image to fully depict what the EVOLVE Curriculum represents. 

 This image not only conveys science, growth, and evolution, but it also includes a depiction of the human body that serves as an important reminder that patient-centered care is the heart of our curriculum. Special thanks to Wendy Fierro from the Office of Strategic Initiatives for designing this graphic image.

The Future of the EVOLVE Curriculum

The EVOLVE Curriculum is about more than preparing our students; it is about empowering them—giving them the knowledge, skills, and competencies to lead, innovate, and elevate the standard of care for generations to come. Beginning in 2027, the Evolve Curriculum will bolster the already strong medical education program our students are receiving. Both current and future students will benefit from this enhancement program as the components are ready for early roll out.

• Advance with Science & Innovation: Align our curriculum with the latest research, evidence-based practices, and evolving healthcare needs to prepare students for real-world impact.
• Empower Future Physicians: Graduate doctors with strong knowledge, clinical skills, and professional values - ready to adapt to new discoveries, emerging technologies, and changing healthcare systems.
• Commit to Lifelong Learning: Cultivate resilience, curiosity, and professional identity to sustain excellence throughout their careers.
• Integrate Science with Humanity: Embed the four science pillars into training to create compassionate, patient-centered physicians who understand the social factors shaping health and advocate for patients, families, and communities.
• Exceed Standards, Drive Progress: Continuously update content to surpass board requirements, introduce innovations in teaching, and strengthen student performance.

By shaping exceptional physicians, we strengthen the healthcare workforce of the Inland Empire and Southern California, advancing equity, improving outcomes, and building healthier communities for generations to come.

We appreciate your continued partnership and engagement as we shape the future of medical education together. We encourage you to visit our curricular enhancement website often and follow along as we build the next chapter of medical education at UCR. This site serves as the central hub for updates, resources, and progress reports as this work unfolds. 

Pablo Joo, MD

Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education

Professor, Family Medicine

Chair-elect, Steering Committee AAMC Western Group on Educational Affairs