With stakeholders from medical schools, private practice, post bac programs, undergraduate institutions, MD-PhD programs, non-profit organizations, and more, the Summit provided an environment for national conversation on current challenges and future solutions to the access pathways for underrepresented students in medical education.
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Describe your experience at the Pathways to Physician Diversity National Summit.
I really enjoyed my time at the Summit because despite the stagnation of diversity in medicine, I was able to hear new perspectives from a variety of stakeholders invested in the cause. The perspective of a pre-health advisor differs from that of a resident physician and from that of a program funder but all of those perspectives are integral to the puzzle. On many occasions, attendees repeated that the lack of diversity in healthcare will not be solved by one program alone. Increased diversity in healthcare is only attainable with the culmination of everyone's collective effort. What struck me the most during the Summit was everyone's enthusiasm and willingness to listen and collaborate with one another.
Describe 3 speakers from the Summit who were most meaningful to you. Who are they? What did they have to say? Why was it meaningful to you?
- Dr. Richard Carmona: He shared the quintessential underdog story. He was a high school dropout from Harlem, New York who rose to become Surgeon General of the United States. He started his medical career when he enlisted in the army as a medic and learned tough lessons about doing public health work in Vietnam. He eventually worked his way through community college and to medical school. President George W. Bush nominated Carmona to the office of Surgeon General and he was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, 98-0. Dr. Carmona's story spoke to me because he represented a "non-traditional" path to medicine and stories like his are not what students typically think of when they imagine the path to becoming a doctor. Dr. Carmona reminded me more than ever that where you come from and whatever setbacks you face should never close the door to a career in medicine.
- Voices from the Pipeline Panel: This panel featured minority physicians at various career stages who discussed their paths to medicine. This discussion stood out because they highlighted the barriers they experienced after admitted to medical school, as well as barriers that persist throughout their careers. Two themes -- mentorship and sponsorship -- surfaced throughout the discussion. Both of these factors were instrumental in allowing the physicians on the panel to overcome the barriers they faced in medical school and beyond. In addition to seeking these relationships, each physician committed to turning around and becoming mentors and sponsors for those coming behind them.
- Mentorship: ongoing relationships formed with more experienced physicians that allow insight into the "hidden curriculum" of medicine
- Sponsorship: support or promotion of someone; opening doors to someone for whom the doors may not have otherwise opened.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County Meyerhoff Scholars Program: This presentation highlighted the enormous impact of targeted pathway programs on increasing diversity in medicine. The program provides underrepresented students in STEM mentorship and research experience on their paths to terminal degrees like PhDs or MD/PhDs. They identified that low expectations, academic and cultural isolation, stereotype threat, and lack of support were some of many factors that impede underrepresented students from persisting in STEM fields. With the help of this program, UMBC is the leading school in the nation for graduating African Americans that earn MD/PhD degrees. This presentation stood out to me because it illustrates that a supportive - rather than malignant - environment is a crucial piece to the medicine pipeline.
- There is no single path to medicine and it is fine to have a roadblock. The door to medicine is always open and it is perfectly fine to take a "non-traditional" or path less traveled.
- Seek mentorship from anyone that may have guidance to offer you even if they don't look like you or do exactly the same thing you want to do. Also, try to offer mentorship to those who may benefit from your insight.
- The issues of lack of diversity in healthcare don't end after admission to medical school. They are present throughout the field. But don't let that be a discouragement. As one of the Summit speakers put it, "The spotlight will always be on you, so why not let them see you succeed?"
I would just like to share some thoughts on why diversity in medicine is particularly important and why there should be greater investment in this challenge. The United States is becoming a more and more diverse country, which is reflected in the patient population. However, it isn't reflected in our physician population. Increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine will go a long way to increase the cultural competence of the field as a whole and to tackle health disparities.
Reference: Trends in Racial and Ethnic Minority Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools, 1980-2016. AAMC Analysis in Brief, 17 (3).
