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Programs support diversity in
education
by Cindy
Abole
Public
Relations
Since 1824, the College of Medicine has strived to educate, teach and
prepare generations of South Carolina’s most qualified and talented
physicians and scientists.
Just as the art of medicine has evolved and progressed in the areas of
science and discovery, so have the health care needs of America’s
growing and diverse society. In response, medical schools across the
country have searched for ways to close the gap on health disparities
by increasing diversity within medical education and improving the
balance of racial and ethnic minorities among physicians and the health
care workforce.
The College of Medicine supports multiculturalism and establishing a
student body that reflects a more diverse patient population that these
future physicians will ultimately serve.
The goal was a top priority for College of Medicine Dean Jerry Reves,
M.D., and Deborah Deas, M.D., co-associate dean for admissions. Since
his arrival in 2001, Reves has been supportive to developing an
academic medical center focused on interdisciplinary experiences and
innovative programs within a collaborative environment that emphasizes
interdisciplinary research and clinical care. Reves’ mission for
diversity within the college included the establishment of a minority
recruitment plan that would increase the number of black and
underrepresented students and retention.
Underrepresented minorities are individuals of African-American, Native
American, Mexican-American and mainland Puerto Rican descent, as
defined by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Deas and the college’s Admissions Committee evaluated the school’s
admissions process and offered recommendations to improve the attrition
rate that focused on timely and effective communications and
personalized support. What they learned is that half of all
underrepresented students accepted to MUSC’s medical school chose to
attend another program.
“We’re always looking for dynamic students who meet our standards to
enrich our college,” said Deas. “At the same time, we value and
understand the issue of diversity and cultural competency within
medical education. We consider students from other vantage points such
as students from rural communities, individuals who worked previously
before applying to med school, or men and women who’ve excelled in the
arts and humanities.”
As an improvement, Deas established the Student Ambassadors program in
fall 2001 to give newly accepted students a face to associate with at
MUSC. Ambassadors are current medical students who volunteer to meet
and talk to potential students answering questions and sharing
experiences. Within a year, the college’s overall attrition rate
decreased from 30 percent to 12 percent, and from 50 percent to 9
percent among minority students.
In addition to increasing diversity within medical education and
workforce recruitment, Deas also developed a monthly mentoring program,
Mentoring Ensures Medical Success or MEMS, to assist minority medical
students. Deas is one of three black faculty-mentors who meet regularly
with participants to discuss issues, share professional advice and
bond.
“Retention in medical school is just as essential as attracting the
right mix of qualified students,” said Myra Haney, director of
Academics and Student Support and also a MEMS mentor. “Sometimes
students have a hard time asking for help. We wanted to design and
establish an intervention program that is supportive to students from
the beginning and throughout their medical education.”
“We wanted to find ways to help students learn how to effectively
transition into the medical school environment, plus possess subtle
bits of information and professional knowledge that would be beneficial
to them,” Deas said.
Deas is proud that this data not only reflects the results of focused
achievements but also a collegial commitment between faculty, staff and
students that has never compromised the medical school’s program or
standards.
With Reves’ support, Deas also formed the College of Medicine Diversity
Committee to establish a collegewide diversity plan that would serve as
a road map for the 25 departments within the college. In turn, each of
the departments were charged with developing their own diversity plans
and initiatives. Today, department chairs and residency training
directors are more mindful in recruiting faculty and house staff and
inviting guest speakers for seminars and educational conferences. Reves
will continue to track the progress of diversity throughout the college.
“Dr. Reves’ systematic method of evaluating departmental diversity
efforts is in part a direct response to the great strides that the
college has made in the area of diversity,” said Deas. “The face of
MUSC faculty and house staff has noticeably changed. When Dr. Reves
joined MUSC, there were only 16 underrepresented minority
resident-physicians and fellows. Today, there are 36 underrepresented
minority residents and fellows. In 2001, there were only 23
underrepresented minority faculty members. Today, there are 57
underrepresented minority faculty members within the college.”
Other initiatives of the Diversity Council includes a new mentoring and
education program with Charleston County middle and high schools that
support a physician career pipeline program to introduce careers in
medicine and admissions guidance to students, especially minority
students.
The school’s commitment to diversity also is outlined as one of the
College of Medicine’s five pillar goals supporting the MUSC Excellence
Initiative, a campuswide program aimed at improving patient care and
sustaining physicians and staff with the purpose of attaining
excellence throughout the workplace.
“Dr. Reves has remained impassioned about diversity and cultural
awareness throughout most of his career as a clinician and medical
educator,” said Ed Cousineau, associate dean for Planning,
Implementation and Evaluation. “He’s supportive of a system that
promotes best practices using contacts and advocacy that reflects and
supports the needs of all South Carolina residents.”
Student
gains new knowledge through MEMS Program
Gaining insight into a unique education process while learning to
connect the dots is something that first-year College of Medicine
student Vandy Gaffney has strived to do since arriving at MUSC’s door
last June.
Vandy Gaffney
The Orangeburg native attributes it to the whole student experience as
an MUSC medical student with support from the College of Medicine’s
Mentoring Ensures Medical School Success (MEMS) program. Gaffney is
among 27 black medical students who meet monthly during lunch with
faculty mentors to discuss issues and share insights on study advice,
communication with faculty and staff and other ideas specific to
student academics and life at MUSC.
“Medical school is a learned culture,” Gaffney said. “It’s great to
have a genuine on-campus presence of someone like a mentor that you
trust who can share their experiences and offer sound advice.”
Last year at this time, Gaffney was like thousands of other
undergraduates bound for medical school. He carefully reviewed his
options, compared and reconsidered programs before arriving at his
final decision. A 2006 graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta,
Gaffney interviewed and was admitted to six of seven medical school
programs across the country. Ultimately, he chose to remain close to
his family in Orangeburg.
“MUSC seemed more user-friendly to students,” Gaffney said. “The staff
from the dean’s office offered a level of student support and
commitment that seemed unmatched. So far, the college has held up to
its billing.”
A lot of topics discussed by MEMS program participants feature issues
that can extend a specific cross-section of students and be shared with
all medical students.
“We probably won’t find a cure for cancer while attending medical
school, but as students, we’ll learn some valuable information that
will be useful to us as physicians-in-training as well as to our future
patients,” he said.
Gaffney is already anxious to share his MEMS experiences with incoming
medical students. He also wants to continue with the program next fall
as it extends to second-year participants, which is meant to gradually
prepare students for their upcoming clinical experiences.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
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for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
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or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
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