The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative

Improving the health of our neighbors means addressing the root causes of poor health in our communities.

A panoramic view of UB's downtown medical campus looking towards Lake Erie.

The pulse of the community. The power of care.

A healthier Buffalo is within our reach. Together with committed community partners, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has launched The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative, a collective effort created to significantly increase the number of practicing physicians specializing in family medicine working within the City of Buffalo. By training highly qualified and compassionate doctors, and keeping their medical school debt to a minimum, we can put them to work helping the community where it’s needed the most—Buffalo’s underserved East and West Sides.

Adding more primary care physicians to our community is the first step in creating improved, more equitable health in Buffalo. Here’s why:

Preventive care: Primary care physicians focus on preventive medicine, helping catch and manage health issues before they become severe.
Better access: More doctors mean shorter wait times and easier appointment scheduling.
Continuity of care: Regular access to the same doctor means better management of chronic conditions and fewer visits to the doctor each year.
Health education: Primary care doctors provide valuable health education, growing individuals’ health literacy.
Cultural competence: Increasing diversity among primary care providers helps address cultural barriers to better health.
Coordination: Helping patients navigate the complex healthcare system ensures better overall care management.

The Initiative at work

A doctor takes the blood pressure of a community member at a medical clinic.

The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative will place doctors where they are needed most while reducing the cost of medical school for doctors who want to support Buffalo communities with significant need. With the average graduate of UB’s Jacobs School carrying more than $225,000 in medical school debt, graduating physicians are often forced to choose more lucrative specialties rather than focus on primary care. The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative is a program for medical students; to receive support and minimize loan debt, each recipient must pledge to specialize in primary care and commit to practice for at least five years in one of Buffalo’s most at risk and in need neighborhoods.

To reduce health disparities by improving access to primary care physicians in Buffalo’s most underserved communities, with your support we will:

Place 4 primary care physicians in the East and West Sides of Buffalo each year.
Improve health care access for approximately 10,000 residents each year in these communities.
Decrease rates of preventable diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Your Impact

At the Jacobs School, we are betting big that by making primary care a more accessible specialty for our students we will significantly increase the number of physicians in our community and pave the way to better health for all of our neighbors. A gift in support of The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative is a gift to support bright and caring physicians who are invested in the future and in a healthier Buffalo. Your support will help provide direct access to primary care for thousands of Buffalo residents, improving the health outcomes and the economic well-being of city residents.

Make a Difference Now

Other Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Funds

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Stephen J. Paolini, M.D. Memorial Fund
6/28/24
Medical students who exemplify compassion and empathy receive awards through this fund.
Kornel L. Terplan M.D. Lecture Fund
6/28/24
An annual lecture in pathology — named for a longtime chairman of the department — is supported through this fund.
John Paroski Memorial Endowment Award Fund
6/28/24
This fund provides an annual award to a fourth-year medical student to help offset expenses in the residency application process.
Medical Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund
6/28/24
Scholarship assistance is crucial for our medical students; this fund helps pave the way for talented students of all backgrounds to attend UB and excel.
June A. and Eugene R. Mindell, MD Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics Endowment
6/28/24
This fund helps attract and retain faculty at the Department of Orthopaedics, as well as support the needs of faculty and residents throughout the department.
Medical Alumni Endowment Scholarship Fund
6/28/24
Scholarship assistance—which is crucial for our medical students—is provided through this fund.
Medical School Class of 1958 Scholarship Fund Endowment
6/28/24
Through this fund, an annual scholarship is provided to a student based on academic excellence and financial need.
Dean's Innovation Fund
6/18/25
This fund provides critical financial support for new and emerging initiatives throughout the school.
Seal the Deal Endowment Fund
6/28/24
This fund is designed to help recruit and retain outstanding students who bring diversity to their class and to the medical school.
Witebsky Fund for Immunology
6/28/24
Support the University at Buffalo Center for Immunology through this fund.
Department of Nuclear Medicine Endowment Fund
6/28/24
This fund supports academic-related programs and activities throughout the Department of Nuclear Medicine.
Chester A. Glomski, MD, Alpha Omega Alpha Endowment Fund
6/28/24
This fund recognizes those who have attained a superior level of achievement in medical training, and who support the goals of AOA-UB.
Emergency Fund
6/28/24
Medical students who are experiencing an unexpected hardship receive support through this fund.
Thomas R. Beam, Jr. Memorial Fund
6/28/24
An annual lecture — supported by this fund — features a prominent infectious diseases expert.
Michael and Peggy Cain Dean's Enrichment Endowment Fund
6/28/24
This fund facilitates key priorities throughout the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
General Pediatrics Fund
6/28/24
Pediatric medical research receives crucial financial support through this fund.
Alzheimer Fund
6/28/24
Support research, education, training and other activities related to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Global Medicine Fund
6/28/24
The purpose of this fund is to support activities such as trips, conferences and other experiential opportunities to educate students about global health priorities.
Medical School Class of 1973 Scholarship
6/28/24
Support medical students who have demonstrated academic accomplishment and financial need through this fund.
Microbiology Fund
6/28/24
This fund provides for student travel awards and fellowships in microbiology in memory of a former teacher and researcher.
Diversity and Inclusion Fund
6/28/24
This fund provides financial resources that support and promote excellence through diversity in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative
9/10/25
A healthier Buffalo is within our reach. Together with committed community partners, the Jacobs School has launched The Buffalo Primary Care Initiative to increase the number of practicing family medicine physicians working within the City of Buffalo.
Family Medicine Endowment Fund
6/28/24
Supporting family practice research, providing care to underserved communities, and teaching interpersonal skills required of a family physician are the goals of this fund.
Building Fund
6/28/24
This fund helps ensure that our students have access to modern technology, techniques and knowledge.
Medical Education and Research Fund
6/28/24
This fund provides critical financial support for our exceptional medical educational programs and research efforts.
Dr. Suk Ki Hong Memorial Lecture Fund
6/28/24
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics hosts an annual lecture for the benefit of the scientific community of Western New York, supported by this fund.
Adelaide & Brendan Griswold Professorship Health Disparities Endowment
6/28/24
By supporting faculty and students who are working toward equitable care for all citizens, this fund helps reduce health disparities throughout the community.
Dr. Thomas J. and Barbara L. Guttuso Scholarship and Award Fund Endowment
6/28/24
Established by a former Dean of Admissions, this fund provides an annual award and scholarships for medical school students.
Western New York Scholarship Fund
6/28/24
Help address the physician shortage in Western New York through this fund, which encourages top students to stay and practice here.

News from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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NYS Invests $50M in New Research Hub
12/3/25
A new biofabrication and imaging research hub will boost health care innovation in WNY and beyond, enhancing research in engineering, structural biology, biomedical informatics, and other fields.
Jacobs School Names Troy Woodard Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology
12/2/25
Troy D. Woodard, MD, section head of rhinology, sinus and skull base surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, has been appointed chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and president and chief executive officer of UB Otolaryngology.
Biomedical Programs Boost Enrollment Growth
12/2/25
With a renewed focus on research experience and experiential learning, enrollment across undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs has grown to new levels, positioning students for success across disciplines and career paths.
From Idea to Impact: The Jacobs School's Research Enterprise
11/26/25
The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences powers the discovery-to-health pipeline through its innovative translational research, community partnerships, education outreach, and much more.
Putting Renewed Focus on Negative Pressure Ventilation
11/26/25
In October, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences hosted a conference on negative pressure ventilation, a less common but useful breathing therapy alternative.
‘We Can’t Wait Until 2042’ Writes UB Expert About Implementing New Guidelines for Treating Concussion/TBI
11/25/25
A UB expert wrote an editorial accompanying the new clinical practice guidelines for treating adults with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury and geared toward primary care providers.
Addressing Health Equity Goal of New CHERI Director
11/21/25
Heather M. Gardiner, PhD, aims to expand the Community Health Equity Research Institute's research impact and strengthen links with the community.