2009;84:6-7. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31819015d0.

Underrepresented minorities and the health professions pipeline.

Beatrice A Boateng, Billy R Thomas

UIID-AD: 1491 DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31819015d0

Abstract

Comments on an article by Barr and colleagues (see record [rid]2008-06779-010[/rid]). Barr and colleagues highlight the inherent problems and high attrition rates at the undergraduate level of the academic pipeline. However, they failed to note the very complex upstream problems that exist at the K–12 level. It is no surprise that Barr and colleagues reported that underrepresented minorities (URMs), who may have had limited past experiences and information, had a higher degree of interest in becoming physicians but lost interest at a higher rate when compared to non-URMs. The starting points are not the same. A lack of past experiences (fewer URMs know or have relatives who are physicians) and a lack of a working knowledge of what it takes to become a physician places many URMs at a distinct disadvantage in making well-informed career choices. We agree that the lack of an accessible quality advising system can lead to low undergraduate retention rates; this is particularly evident at the community college level. Identifying and nurturing students upstream are key to our success in increasing the number of URMs who develop an interest in, enter, and matriculate through medical school. For these are the students who can increase racial and ethic diversity in the health care workforce, ultimately reducing health care disparities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Publication Types

• Journal Article