Summary
Combatting the Underrepresentation of Minorities in Medical School
Introduction
Heidi Chumley, MD, MBA, the Dean of Ross University School of Medicine, discussed the challenges of underrepresentation of minorities in medical school admissions in a recent episode. She emphasized the importance of implementing various measures to ensure equity in medical school admissions.
Reliance on MCAT Scores
Dr. Chumley noted that the use of MCAT scores in medical school admissions can lead to inequitable graduation rates among underrepresented minorities. To help close this gap, she suggested pre-matriculation programs, frameworks based on social determinants of learning, and population management approaches to provide more support to those who need it.
Social Determinants of Learning and Health
Dr. Chumley stressed the importance of understanding social determinants of learning and health to better recruit and retain black students and persons of color. She also discussed the increasing availability of residency programs due to funding from hospitals that previously did not offer them. Finally, she urged medical schools to view this as a non-zero-sum game to ensure that more students can be admitted without taking away from other students.
Conclusion
The underrepresentation of minorities in medical school is a significant issue that requires action. Dr. Chumley advocates that medical schools take a comprehensive approach to ensure equity for all students. This includes implementing policies based on social determinants of learning, providing support through pre-matriculation programs, and adopting population management approaches. Taking these steps can significantly increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in medical school and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes for all.
Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com
This episode aired on 11/27/2022 and can be listened here.
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