Development of a Leadership Curriculum in a Premedical Pathway Summer Program
Problem: One of the most direct
ways to address health disparities is to increase diversity of the healthcare
workforce (Figueroa, 2014) However, the diversity of physicians does not match
the US population, and medical schools lack URM faculty, particularly in
leadership and senior roles (Palepu, 1998).The objective of the Undergraduate Research Program is to increase the
diversity of the health care workforce through a summer pathway program.
Intervention: The Kaiser/UCSF Undergraduate Research Internship (URI) recruits
sixteen UC Berkeley undergraduate students who are of racial identities
underrepresented in medicine (URM).The
program includes research, clinical shadowing, and a Leadership Development
Program including lectures by URI alumni and SOM leaders, small group sessions,
and final project.
Context: The URI program was established in 2009 with the goal of providing
mentorship, clinical exposure and research experience for URM premedical
students from UC Berkeley.
Outcome/Lessons Learned: Over 15 years, 220 students completed the URI
[program; the majority identified as women (88%), 15% identified as Black, and
55% identified as Latinx Thirty URI alumni have enrolled in medical school as
of July 2022. Overall the URI program and didactic components, which include
the leadership lectures, are highly rated.
The leadership program has prioritized different content. Most recently,
students develop a talk about their interest in medicine, a springboard for
their personal statement.The small
group discussions have been student-led, but continuity has been
challenging.It has been difficult to
ascertain outcomes, as students may enter health care training approximately 5
years after the program.
Figueroa, O. (2014). The significance of recruiting underrepresented minorities
in medicine: An examination of the need for effective approaches used in
admissions by higher education institutions. Medical Education Online,19(1),
24891. doi:10.3402/meo.v19.24891
