Location
Philadelphia, PA
Start Date
3-5-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
3-5-2023 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professions suffer from an imbalance in the number of culturally and ethnically diverse providers and the populations they serve. This poster presentation will illustrate our commitment to mitigating the dearth of underrepresented men in medicine. Currently, African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but only 4% of U.S. doctors and less than 7% of U.S. medical students. (Of active U.S. doctors in 2013, 48.9% were white, 11.7% were Asian, 4.4% were Hispanic or Latinx, and 0.4% were American Indian or Alaska Native.) (HBR, August 10, 2018). In 1986, 57% of black medical school graduates were men — but by 2015 that number had declined to just 35%, even as the total number of black graduates in all fields had increased. Although Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the nation, the rate of Latino doctors as compared to the population has steadily declined in recent years. In 1980, there were 135 Latino physicians for every 100,000 Latinos, but by 2010 the number had dropped to 105 for every 100,000, a 22% decline. (nbcnews, February 11, 2015). Since minority health professionals are more likely than Whites to practice in minority and medically underserved areas, a more diverse health workforce could help to improve access to healthcare. (KFF, October 2008).
Objective: Our program aims to offer opportunities for African American and Hispanic male undergraduate science majors at Cabrini University to engage in research at PCOM and to expose them to the intricacies of working in a professional laboratory.
Method: In the summer 2019, the Office of Diversity and Community Relations and Division of Research and Science at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) partnered with Cabrini University, an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, to pilot the inaugural African American and Hispanic Male Undergraduate Research initiative. Studies show that African American and Hispanic males are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational programs and careers. Existing research has suggested that a lack of access to advanced science courses and professional environments could be one reason for the disparity. Addressing these crises and challenges require intentionality, innovation, resources, and partnerships. Since launching this initiative, we have paired six Cabrini interns with PCOM faculty mentors.
Results: One of our graduates is currently employed as a Lab Assistant at PCOM and another is pursuing a graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Another has enrolled in one of the top nursing programs in the country. The other interns are still students at Cabrini University and plan to pursue careers in medicine and biotechnology. We will share lessons learned about the power of partnerships in leading this social change work.
Embargo Period
8-30-2023
Included in
Growing the pipeline of Men of Color in medicine
Philadelphia, PA
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professions suffer from an imbalance in the number of culturally and ethnically diverse providers and the populations they serve. This poster presentation will illustrate our commitment to mitigating the dearth of underrepresented men in medicine. Currently, African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but only 4% of U.S. doctors and less than 7% of U.S. medical students. (Of active U.S. doctors in 2013, 48.9% were white, 11.7% were Asian, 4.4% were Hispanic or Latinx, and 0.4% were American Indian or Alaska Native.) (HBR, August 10, 2018). In 1986, 57% of black medical school graduates were men — but by 2015 that number had declined to just 35%, even as the total number of black graduates in all fields had increased. Although Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the nation, the rate of Latino doctors as compared to the population has steadily declined in recent years. In 1980, there were 135 Latino physicians for every 100,000 Latinos, but by 2010 the number had dropped to 105 for every 100,000, a 22% decline. (nbcnews, February 11, 2015). Since minority health professionals are more likely than Whites to practice in minority and medically underserved areas, a more diverse health workforce could help to improve access to healthcare. (KFF, October 2008).
Objective: Our program aims to offer opportunities for African American and Hispanic male undergraduate science majors at Cabrini University to engage in research at PCOM and to expose them to the intricacies of working in a professional laboratory.
Method: In the summer 2019, the Office of Diversity and Community Relations and Division of Research and Science at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) partnered with Cabrini University, an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, to pilot the inaugural African American and Hispanic Male Undergraduate Research initiative. Studies show that African American and Hispanic males are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational programs and careers. Existing research has suggested that a lack of access to advanced science courses and professional environments could be one reason for the disparity. Addressing these crises and challenges require intentionality, innovation, resources, and partnerships. Since launching this initiative, we have paired six Cabrini interns with PCOM faculty mentors.
Results: One of our graduates is currently employed as a Lab Assistant at PCOM and another is pursuing a graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Another has enrolled in one of the top nursing programs in the country. The other interns are still students at Cabrini University and plan to pursue careers in medicine and biotechnology. We will share lessons learned about the power of partnerships in leading this social change work.
Comments
Presented by Jacqueline Gerhart.