Population Health Research in Medical Education Addresses California Central Valley Health Disparities

Abstract Background California's Central Valley faces severe health disparities exacerbated by poverty, provider shortages, and cultural barriers. The Physician's Role in the Health System (PRHS) course at California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), situated in Fresno County, supports medical students to address these gaps through community-engaged research. Objective To evaluate the alignment of PRHS student projects with regional health priorities. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 96 PRHS projects from 2020 to 2025 using CHSU Research Day abstracts and posters. Projects were categorized by medical research domains such as cardiovascular disorders, neurology, and behavioral health. The number of research domains and projects in each category was then compared with the prevalence rates of chronic diseases in Fresno County, California, and the United States. Results Of the 96 projects, 78% addressed Fresno’s top health concerns. The most common topics were diabetes (21.88%), cardiovascular disorders (14.58%), and social determinants of health (14.58%). However, several high-burden conditions, including obesity (3.13%), high cholesterol (0%), arthritis (0%), and asthma (1.04%), were underrepresented relative to their regional prevalence. Additionally, most projects did not include primary data collection or longitudinal follow-up, limiting their immediate impact. Conclusions While PRHS successfully exposes students to community health research and aligns with some regional priorities, gaps remain between student project topics and the regional most prevalent chronic diseases. Strengthening mentorship, supporting longitudinal projects, and guiding topic selection based on local epidemiological data could enhance the program's impact and ensure research efforts more fully address the community's health needs.