|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Getting Versed in Diversityby Maureen Kovacik
And they come in jumbo size. Such sensitivity to the many faceted world of human beings reflects a growing awareness by American business and non-profit organizations for the need to adjust policies, create opportunities, and encourage embracement of those who are "different" from the, ugh, norm. At Baylor College of Medicine, this has resulted in the creation of the BCM Institutional Diversity Council, comprised of 42 faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students. The Council, formed this past spring, will be examining the potential for increased diversity at BCM in several "cluster" areas including:
BCM has long had programs in place to bring historically underserved students into the medical school and graduate studies "pipeline." The College itself has a multi-cultural faculty and student body, and with the current entering Medical School class, saw a dramatic increase in the matriculation of female students. "BCM is among the nation's leading medical schools regarding the enrollment of underrepresented minorities," said Wayne J. Riley, M.D., M.B.A., Vice President and Vice Dean of Health Affairs and Governmental Relations and Associate Professor of Medicine. "Now we want to elevate the issue within the BCM family and address areas of weakness while continuing to improve areas of strength." Formally ratified by the Academic Council in 2005, the creation of the council was born out of BCM's first diversity retreat held in January 2003 under the leadership of President and CEO Peter Traber, M.D. Its broad-based membership of faculty, staff, students and fellows will look at ways to implement new and enhanced diversity initiatives and policies at BCM, and also work with BCM's future Office of Diversity. "Diversity is an important part to the College's future," said Riley, one of three vice chairs of the council. "We want to raise awareness and make BCM a model of diversity at all levels including students, faculty, staff, residents, and affiliates." The concept of diversity is nothing new to BCM. In fact, the college has been working to recruit underrepresented minorities since the 1960s. Many BCM educational efforts have gone a long way towards establishing the College as a national leader in educational outreach programs. Even better, it has given many students the opportunity to pursue a career in the health sciences—an opportunity that otherwise might have been hard to come by. Following are some examples of BCM diversity outreach in the education arena: Tie Dye and Stethoscopes: The DeBakey High School for Health ProfessionsAmongst the social upheavals of the 1960's, an oasis of stability, and practicality, was formed with the establishment of the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. "For over 33 years, BCM has created and operated programs to enhance opportunities for underrepresented students to access careers in the health professions and science," said William Thomson, Ph.D. professor and director of BCM's Center for Educational Outreach. "The corner stone has always been the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. As the first and oldest freestanding magnet health professions high school in the U.S., the school is now recognized as one of the top high schools in the country." Valley Girls and Guys: South Texas HSHP and UT-Pan AmUsing the DeBakey High School as a model, the College established a partnership in 1983 with the predominantly Hispanic South Texas Independent School District to create the South Texas High School for Health Professions (STHSHP). It became part of six magnet school programs in the area that provide educational opportunities to high school students who want to get into medicine. In 1994, Baylor took another step with the establishment of the University of Texas-Pan American Premedical Honors Program. "Since its inception, more than 200 students have participated in this program that ultimately provides a pipeline of qualified, prepared students from South Texas to BCM," said Lloyd H. Michael, Ph.D., senior associate dean for admissions and a BCM professor. "Over the years the program has been extremely successful and set the standard for other medical schools to follow. In fact, the State of Texas uses it as a model for its Joint Medical Admissions Program (JAMP)." Students from STHSHP and other high schools in South Texas are actively recruited to take part in the program. "The program has developed such a good reputation that we have many interested students apply," said Program Director Cindy Wedig, Ph.D, Univeristy of Texas-Pan American. "As we screen these applications, our committee takes extra care to recommend mature and motivated students who demonstrate a sincere passion for a career in medicine." Selected students are offered a scholarship that covers both their time at UT-Pan Am and Baylor. Once accepted, they are put through rigorous academic training during the pre-medical years at UT-Pan Am in Edinburg. Majoring in either biology or chemistry, they are required to meet certain academic standards and complete premedical prerequisites before attending BCM. They also have the opportunity to become acquainted with Baylor during special summer programs. "Spending a few weeks at BCM, these students develop a good sense of what it takes to go to medical school, and ultimately, to pursue a career in medicine," said Pamela Ferry, assistant professor in the Center for Educational Outreach. "We provide a mentor and the students are afforded the opportunity to work in both clinical and research programs." An "Ear" for MedicineAs a child, Gonzalo Perez-Garcia went to the doctor numerous times to take care of ear infections. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing. Something in that doctor's office got him excited about a career in medicine. A friend told him about the UT-Pan Am program in his junior year of high school. The next year he applied and was accepted. "This program really prepared me for the rigors of medical school," said Perez-Garcia, a BCM fourth-year medical student interested in psychiatry. "The 'peer-based' support system has given me the opportunity to gain valuable information from upper-classmen, a number of who are also in the program." Perez-Garcia is involved in several organizations such as the student-arm of the American Medical Association, the National Network of Latino American Students, and is currently serving as class president. "When I was younger, I volunteered in a hospital in South Texas and hoped to one day become a doctor," Perez-Garcia said. "This program gave me that opportunity—one that I might not have had otherwise." Laura Rubinos agrees. Originally from Mexico City, Rubinos moved to Laredo as a young child. While in high school, she learned of the program from classmates and, harboring a love for science, applied. "It was too good of an opportunity to pass up," said Rubinos, a second-year BCM medical student interested in primary care. "Being a part of this program enabled me to finish my college courses early, work on my undergraduate honors thesis while conducting research at BCM, and study abroad in Europe—all before entering medical school." In addition to her studies, Rubinos serves as co-chair for the National Network of Latin American Medical Students and is a member of the American Medical Society where she is working to develop volunteer opportunities for medical students. "An important part of this program is the experience that is gained through actual social interaction with the minority population these students serve," said Grace Villarreal, M.D., assistant dean for admissions and a BCM assistant professor of pediatrics. In the future, Villarreal hopes to send UT-Pan Am students, as well as current medical students to places like Mexico City where they will be immersed in an atmosphere that will help them become culturally sensitive and competent. "By exposing, challenging, and guiding these students, we help them find something they are passionate about," Villarreal said. "We believe this will help them make positive changes in their communities when they graduate from medical school." Since the first class graduated in 1998, 96 of the UTPA program's 112 graduates have entered medical school. Of those, 31 have already earned their medical degree and are involved in residency programs. Two are practicing family medicine in South Texas. "This program, and others like it that the College is involved in, have gone a long way towards establishing Baylor as a national leader in educational outreach programs," said Michael. "And even better, it has given many students who otherwise would not have had an opportunity, the chance to live out their dreams of one day becoming a doctor." There's No Place Like Home: The Houston Premedical Academy and Rice Medical Scholars ProgramRight here in Houston, the Houston Premedical Academy was born in 1996 and is a cooperative effort among the DeBakey HSHP, the University of Houston and BCM. Up to 10 graduating seniors are selected to participate and can choose to major in any of 10 fields available through the UH College of Natural Sciences and Math. About 50 percent of those accepted are underrepresented minorities. Much like the UTPA program, the program serves as a pathway to medical school for students from an underserved area. "BCM is committed to making medical care available to the underserved in our country," said James L. Phillips, M.D., a BCM senior associate dean and mentor to the program. "The groups most underserved, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Mainland Puerto Ricans and Native Americans, constitute 25 percent of our country, but only six percent of our physicians. By addressing this disparity, an impact can be made in providing medical care to these groups. Historically, Hispanic physicians treat twice as many Hispanic patients compared to non-Hispanic physicians, while African-American physicians treat six times as many African-American patients compared to non African-American physicians." So far 98 students have participated in the program with 84 percent of those students continuing on to medical school. Of those students attending medical school, 86 percent of them attend BCM. One requirement of second and third year students in the program is to journey out of the state to do research. "This is an important aspect of the program since many of these students have never left Texas," said Phillips. "Doing so allows them to broaden their experiences while meeting, and working with, more people from different walks of life." Participants then report their findings at a research symposium where they give poster presentations. Three students are chosen to give oral presentations. Program students are also encouraged to participate in other offsite meetings while studying at UH. For the past 16 years, BCM has also offered an eight-year baccalaureate/MD program in partnership with Rice University. "This program is another avenue for very talented students to have conditional acceptance to BCM as they enter Rice University," said Michael. " An average of 25 percent of these students are underrepresented minority students from the very best high schools across the U. S." Get "SMART": Summer Research ProgramNo, not Agent 86 calling Agent 99 with his shoe phone, but the Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) program. Enrolling between 80 and 100 undergraduate students each year, participants get paid and are involved in some cutting edge research projects during their nine week stay. "There have been 439 students from underrepresented minorities enrolled in SMART," said Gayle Slaughter, Ph.D., program director, and assistant dean of the Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences. "Of those, 257 have entered Ph.D., M.D./ Ph.D. or medical programs with 70 of them enrolled at BCM." The SMART program allows students to rub elbows with some of the nation's top scientists and take part in groundbreaking research projects. "We've seen students from some of the most downtrodden, underrepresented areas of the country thrive in our program, and go on to successful medical careers," Slaughter said. "It is proof that all some kids need an opportunity to succeed." Participants can also take advantage of numerous seminars and talks, including those given by patients who may be helped by the research conducted. "Listening to the patients shows the human side of science," said Slaughter. "We encourage these students to take the information they have learned back to their communities where they may inspire others to pursue similar interests." One Step Closer to a Medical Career: Honors Pre-Medical AcademyThe Honors Premedical Academy (HPA), funded in part by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has had a long history of helping minority students gain access to medical school. "At BCM, we have about 120 students, many from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged areas of the country, take part in the program each year," said BCM Program Director Pamela Ferry. Since its inception in 1989, over 1,800 students have taken part in the program at BCM. More than one-fourth of these students are already M.D.s, and 225 are currently enrolled in U.S. medical schools. "It is very exciting to see these students succeed," Ferry said, "and it is gratifying to know our program has helped them do so." Tomorrow's Medicine: Saturday's Science and TSU CEHDRStudents in grades eight through twelve from Houston's Fifth Ward have a unique opportunity thanks to BCM's Saturday Science program. "Traditionally, public schools in cities are unable to provide the same quality of education found in the suburbs," said Phillips. "This program generates excitement about science in the hopes of inspiring students to go into medicine and serve their own communities." Students have the opportunity to participate in workshops with the final session including a career fair. "We also hope a percentage of those future minority physicians become faculty and fill that need as well," said Phillips. "There is much work to be done, but we are making progress." BCM has also recently teamed with Texas Southern University to establish the Texas Southern University Center of Excellence in Health Disparities Research (TSU-CEHDR). The primary goal is to facilitate research programs aimed at addressing the health needs of minorities by training minority investigators. The CEHDR has four cores that include administrative, research, training and mentoring, and community outreach. "This is an exciting opportunity," said Paul Haidet, M.D., a BCM assistant professor of medicine-health services research and co-director of the program's education core. "It is my hope that this program will lead to future collaborative relationships among faculty and institutions to address these issues even more thoroughly." |
Patient CareResearchThe Next Step in Cancer Research EducationHalf a Century Later... They're Still Giving Back Community ServiceFrom Despair to Hope: BCM Responds to Katrina Alumni & DevelopmentThe Vietnamese Cowboy and the Race Car Driver A Fortunate Life... A Fight Against Cancer College NewsA New Door for the East Campus New Museum to Showcase Maestro of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine: Making a Difference in the Community
|
||
Volume 1, Issue 3, Fall 2005 |
|||
 |
|
BCM Home | BCM Intranet | Privacy Notices | Contact BCM | BCM Site Map © 2005-9 Baylor College of Medicine® |
|
| Last modified: October 10, 2008 |
Lakeshore Learning Materials, an educational resource company out of Carson, California, sells People Colors Crayons© that allow children to color people as they really are.