BC Launches Kern-AUCC Health Scholars Pathway to Expand Medical Career Opportunities
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Bakersfield College has announced the launch of the Kern-AUCC Health Scholars Pathway, a new initiative in collaboration with the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) and Morehouse School of Medicine that creates a streamlined, affordable path for students from Kern County to pursue careers in medicine.
Through this pathway, students will begin their journey at Bakersfield College, transfer into an AUCC institution in Atlanta, and continue on to medical school at Morehouse School of Medicine before ultimately returning home to Kern County to complete their residency.
Applications for the first cohort of Kern-AUCC Health Scholars open November 4, 2025, with the inaugural class to be announced in April 2026.
The Kern-AUCC Health Scholars Pathway directly addresses one of the region’s most pressing challenges: the shortage of local physicians. By developing a locally rooted, nationally connected educational pipeline, Bakersfield College and its partners are investing in long-term solutions that will strengthen access to care and the economic health of Kern County.
Representatives from AUCC and Morehouse School of Medicine joined Bakersfield College and the Kern Community College District for the press conference on Monday to celebrate the launch and highlight the collaboration’s potential to expand opportunities for local students.
Bakersfield College is proud to lead this transformative effort and invites students and families to learn more as applications open on November 4. Together, we are preparing the next generation of medical professionals to serve and thrive, right here in Kern County.
