"Evolution of a combined baccalaureate/medical degree program as a pipeline to primary care: retention strategies and lessons learned".

The article focuses on the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine's combined baccalaureate/medical degree (BA/MD) program, established to address physician shortages and improve healthcare access in New Mexico, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Since 2006, the program has admitted students from 31 of the state's 33 counties, emphasizing recruitment of those underrepresented in medicine (URiM) and from rural backgrounds, and has implemented curricular and support interventions that significantly improved undergraduate retention rates. Of the 81 program graduates currently practicing, 65% work in New Mexico across 10 counties, with approximately two-thirds specializing in primary care, reflecting the program's mission to produce diverse physicians who serve local healthcare needs. The program's holistic admissions, targeted academic support, and mission-driven curriculum serve as a model for pipeline initiatives aiming to enhance physician diversity and primary care workforce in underserved regions.