Program Director

Blanca Campos

 

 

 

 

 

Blanca Campos, MD
Program Director

Dr. Blanca Campos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UCLA, where she serves as the Director of the UCLA International Medical Graduate (IMG) Program and Interim Medical Director of the UCLA Family Health Center. A proud alumna of the IMG Program (Class of 2008), Dr. Campos is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for international medical graduates and improving access to care for underserved communities.

Born in Belize and fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Campos brings a rich multicultural perspective to her work. She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED) in Costa Rica and completed her residency training in Family Medicine at UCLA. Before returning to UCLA, she served for three years at the Wilmington Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) under NECC, where she provided high-quality care to underserved patients.

Dr. Campos is passionate about teaching, mentorship, and leadership. As Director of the IMG Program, she plays an instrumental role in preparing international medical graduates for Family Medicine residency in California. In her role as Interim Medical Director of the UCLA Family Health Center, she ensures the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered care while fostering a collaborative learning environment for residents and medical staff. She also enjoys working closely with Family Medicine residents in the outpatient setting, where her dedication to education and patient care inspires the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Former Program Directors & Co-Founders 

Michelle Bholat

Michelle Bholat, MD, MPH
Co-Founder 

Dr. Michelle Bholat is a former UCLA Professor (1997-2024) and Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where she co-led the IMG program before transitioning to UC Riverside. Though no longer with the UCLA Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Bholat’s lasting impact with the IMG program remains. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine College of Medicine, completed Family Medicine residency training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and earned her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the UCLA School of Public Health. Prior to her time at UCLA, Dr. Bholat served as Associate Residency Program Director for the Harbor-UCLA Department of Family Medicine and Medical Director of the Wilmington Family Health Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Bholat has also served as Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Public Health Commission. She is a former fellow of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and an active member of its California chapter. She was appointed to the Medical Board of California by Governor Edmund G. Brown in 2015 and reappointed in 2018, during which she was also elected as Secretary of the Medical Board. 

Patrick Dowling

Patrick Dowling, MD, MPH
Co-Founder 

Dr. Patrick Dowling is Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he served as the inaugural permanent Chair of the Department of Family Medicine from 1998 until his retirement in 2021. He co-founded the UCLA IMG program and co-led until his retirement! A graduate of the Medical College of Ohio and the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Dr. Dowling completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and is board certified in Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. Before joining UCLA, Dr. Dowling led Family Medicine Residency programs at Cook County Hospital, Brown University, and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served on the National Advisory Council of the National Health Service Corps, as a Commissioner of Public Health for Los Angeles County, and on the Board of the Drew University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Dowling dedicated his career to linking graduate medical education with underserved communities, striving to improve access to care and reduce health disparities. His commitment to healthcare as a human right was deeply shaped by his work as Medical Director of the United Farm Workers of America Clinics under Cesar Chavez in California’s Coachella and Imperial Valleys during the 1970s.