News — Irvine, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 — UC Irvine School of Medicine announced today that it has received a $1 million grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety () to support its Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation Program. The program, working in the heart of Santa Ana, California, will promote safe driver education and practices for Latino youth and emphasize the critical role of safe transportation in their health, education and employment as they move into young adulthood. The program will bring together unique collaborations between Santa Ana communities and UC Irvine transportation safety and science partners. The grant program runs through September 2025.
"We are excited to receive this grant, which will allow us to significantly expand young driver safety partnerships and prevention activities for Latino youth," said Dr. Federico Vaca, professor and executive vice chair of emergency medicine at UC Irvine's School of Medicine. "By focusing on young driver safety with a lifespan perspective, namely health, education and employment, we aim to help reduce crashes, prevent injuries and expand future opportunities for our youth. We’re working hard toward guiding youth into an early adulthood where they can be safe and flourish."
Grant funds will support various activities focused on young driver safety, behavior and instruction, including:
- Develop and implement a novel curriculum focused on the "how" and "why" of Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation.
- Leverage new traffic safety educational exposure and experience among youth to enhance their driver safety knowledge and behavior.
- Provide community and school education presentations and participation in community partnership events.
- A professional drivers’ training course that further exposes and educates youth to safe driving behaviors.
- Youth- and parent-focused messaging about transportation safety and transportation science regarding health, education and employment.
"The Office of Traffic Safety is proud to support programs that empower young drivers with the knowledge and skills to make safe choices on the road," OTS Acting Director Jessica Chan said. "This partnership highlights the importance of addressing the unique challenges Latino youth face, fostering safer communities, and creating a foundation for lifelong success. Together, we are investing in the safety and well-being of the next generation.”
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
About the UC Irvine School of Medicine
Each year, the UC Irvine School of Medicine educates more than 500 medical students and nearly 150 PhD and MS students. More than 750 residents and fellows are trained at the UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The School of Medicine offers multiple MD, PhD and MS degrees, and students are encouraged to pursue an expansive range of interests and options. For medical students, there are numerous concurrent dual degree programs, including an MD/MBA, MD/MPH, or an MD/MS degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Program in Medical Education for Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UC Irvine School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit .
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