Cultural Competency / Health Workforce / PRIME
TCE leads philanthropic efforts to diversify the health workforce and advocate for language access improvements in the health system.
The system’s healthcare workforce is highly unrepresentative of the state’s population, its financing is misaligned- incentivizing volume over value or health outcomes – and a strong power imbalance exists between physicians and patients and communities.
The California Endowment has undertaken several initiatives to fix this misalignment and imbalance.
The 21st Century Pathways to Health Careers initiative allocated grants to support statewide and local programs that create career paths in healthcare for youth in grades 7-16.
The initiative is organized around three strategic goals and outcomes: increased career opportunities in healthcare for young Californians, especially boys and young men of color; a health workforce populated by local residents in frontline jobs supporting primary care, community-based prevention, patient-centered medical homes, and integrated and coordinated care models; and a larger and more skilled healthcare workforce able to provide high-quality, culturally responsive, and linguistically competent primary care and community health services in places of greatest need.
We also focused on supporting high-quality workforce development programs that enabled healthcare workers to improve their skills and prepare for high demand occupations in the public healthcare sector while training community health workers and medical assistants, enabling them to be better integrated into the state’s health services system.
-
$78.2M
to CA organizations working to boost the size and diversity of the state's healthcare workforce
“Whether the culprit is COVID-19, or Influenza, or Tuberculosis, or Smallpox – the public’s health is best protected when ALL are welcome and covered in the system.”
DR. ROBERT K. ROSS President & CEO, The California Endowment
Browse Other Changes Planted by Dr. Ross
Building Healthy Communities $1B invested over 10 years
Health4All 38.6 million lives impacted
Youth Awards 37 total awards given
Schools Not Prisons & BMOC Millions reached since 2016
Farmworker Health $50M initiative
TCE Grant Making 2023 $381M awarded
Parks for All Hundreds of millions leveraged for parks investments in CA
Youth on the Board 1st of large foundations in US to have youth on the board
Childhood Obesity & Freshworks $272M to expand access to fresh and healthy foods in low-income communities
CHIS 20,000 households interviewed annually to find health gaps in CA
Kids Health Coverage Campaign $4M to help enroll children in health programs
TCE Headquarters 125,000+ use our facilities every year
Wishing Wall
Dr. Ross,
Thank you for being unwavering and clear about TCE’s purpose. Thank you for always listening and learning and dreaming about what could be.
Forever grateful,
- Mia Bolton
Miyihah-Tlakilte Dr. Ross -
On behalf of Anawakalmekak and the Gabrielino shoshone nation. Much love on your journey.
Love you, Bob! Keep killing the game!
Thank you Dr. Ross for impacting so many people and our community.
- Vida Mobile Clinic
Thank you for believing in us and the opportunities your faith in us have afforded so many. We wish tenfold those blessings on you.
- Alf LaMont
Thank you, Dr. Ross, for all the love you have given to this world. You have paved the way to continue making change.
- Veronica
The force is strong in our family.
- D. Wash
Dang Bob! You really leaving? You really reading all this good stuff?! Ok man! Among so many of the things I already said, you baaaad, Dude. Much love!
Dr. Ross! You are a blessing and have changed the world we live in. Thank you.
- H.S.F.
Bob,
Don’t be a stranger.
Love you,
- Ray
Bob:
Thanks for 24 years of service to TCE and all Californians! Enjoy your new adventures!
Dr. Ross,
Wishing you all of the joy and relaxation you well deserve. Thank you for everything!
- Alyric Bell (UNITE-LA)
Dr. Ross,
Deep gratitude for your leadership and commitment to equity and justice.
It’s been a blessing to us and the movement to have you. Wishing you lots of love in your next chapter.
Thank you for doing the true work of a doctor… HEALING! I heard you speak early in my career and was very inspired. Thank you!
- Leslie Johnson (Community Coalition)
Love you brother!
Wishing you well in all things, Bob. Preach on!
- John F.
Thank you for all the great work bringing health and wellness to California.
- Alan Pullman
Wishing you a happy and blessed retirement.
Love,
- David & Pei
Celebrate your new life!!
Our very best,
- Lew & Mary
Unveiling Our
2025 Annual
Report
The California Endowment is proud to present our 2025 annual report. Read about the work we are supporting and our partners who are changing California to a state of belonging and inclusion.
View Report