CommonSpirit and Morehouse School of Medicine: United for more equitable care
At the end of 2025, the Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Santa Cruz, California, received a $315,000 grant award from CalMedForce/CalMedForce+, which helps to fund and expand residency and fellowship training programs across the state of California.
Along with generous philanthropic support from CommonSpirit Health Foundation donors, the grant funding will help strengthen the partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and Dominican Hospital, part of our historic More in Common Alliance (MiCA) partnership.
About More in Common Alliance (MiCA)
Vulnerable patient populations, especially those from historically marginalized communities, face systemic social, environmental and economic disparities that can lead to poor health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires us to not only consider how we care, but also who cares for the people in these communities.
Providers with similar backgrounds and common life experiences can build trust, strengthen communication and foster a sense of understanding with their patients.
Today, only 9% of physicians are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). MiCA was established by CommonSpirit and Morehouse School of Medicine as a clear path forward for the next generation of diverse, culturally competent health clinicians and researchers.
A hands-on, community-first approach to care
In the Morehouse/Dominican Family Medicine Residency Program, residents are exposed to the entire practice, with their own panel of patients from the Santa Cruz community.
“We serve our local Santa Cruz County community, which is comprised of a population of varying identity differences regarding ancestral history,” says Casey Kirkhart, DO, a core faculty member of the Family Medicine Residency Program.
“Our residents see variety: the patient who has a sprained ankle, the next patient who has diabetes, then a patient who has substance use disorder. They’ll see how different care team members step in for some visits, and others step in for other types of visits. It really allows everyone to feel completely fulfilled and to be experts in what they do and translate that into caring for the patient.”
Opening doors for tomorrow’s caregivers
MiCA not only supports underrepresented patient populations; it also creates access and opportunity for diverse, aspiring caregivers to train and prepare for a successful career in medicine.
Zakari Murphy, PhD, an MD candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine, says he “wasn’t that good of a science student” in college. “Actually, a low B, borderline C level,” he shares. Despite this, he now holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, as well as an MS in Medical Science, both from Morehouse — and is now an MD candidate there as well.
Through his education at Morehouse, he developed successful study techniques and learned how to use his strengths to improve in a subject he once struggled with.
Vulnerable patient populations, especially those from historically marginalized communities, face systemic social, environmental and economic disparities that can lead to poor health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires us to not only consider how we care, but also who cares for the people in these communities.
People from backgrounds that are used to it may start from zero; but people from underrepresented minority backgrounds, they start from negative 200 yards.
— Zakari Murphy, PhD
MD candidate, Morehouse School of Medicine
"There's so much catching up you have to do, financially and educationally. This is how you turn in the application, this is how you do a personal statement, this is where you go to get research, this is where you go to present at conferences. These programs are pivotal at filling in those blanks.”
Now, Dr. Murphy is pursuing his medical degree at Morehouse, looking forward to eventually participating in a CommonSpirit Health residency program through MiCA.
The power of philanthropy
Together, we are building toward a future where medical education and training are accessible, representation is a reality, and equity is realized at the scope and scale necessary to transform health for all.
Philanthropy is vital to achieving this bold vision, by helping us:
- Expand and enhance clinical training sites, like Dominican Hospital
- Upgrade aging technology and equipment to support innovative learning
- Provide faculty support and endowments
- Offset the cost of student travel and housing expenses
- Advance research opportunities for medical students and residents
- Offer generous and competitive student scholarships
To learn more about the power of a gift to MiCA, please visit moreincommonalliance.org/take-action/donate.
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