Preliminary Report on the Outcome of A Pilot Program To Recruit and
Retain Underrepresented Minority Students in our MEdical school
Lon J. Van Winkle, Ph.D.* Department of Biochemistry,
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers
Grove, IL 60515 U.S.A.
African,
Mexican, Native and Puerto Rican American students are disproportionately
underrepresented in most colleges of medicine in the U.S.A.
Hence, the capacity of our graduates to practice in all segments of
society should be enhanced if we can recruit more underrepresented
minority students to attend our colleges.
We developed a pilot program at the Chicago College of Osteopathic
Medicine (CCOM) to; (1) increase by eight or more per year the number of
underrepresented minority students that matriculate and (2) select among
students at apparent academic risk those who have the time management and
other skills needed to succeed in medical school.
Approximately 20 students with 15 - 19 total numerical MCAT scores,
2.5 – 2.9 science and overall grade point averages, and grades of C or
higher in Organic Chemistry and Physics began the summer portion of the
program each year in 1995, ‘96 and ‘97.
The summer program lasted for six weeks and included three courses
in the basic sciences, two courses in the clinical sciences, and one
course in library science. Students'
performances in the six courses and evaluations of preceptors, instructors
and teaching assistants were used to identify qualified students in the at
risk pool. In general,
participants had to pass all courses (75% or higher) to be considered for
admission. Prior to the summer
program, students subsequently offered admission could not be
distinguished academically from those denied admission (total numerical
MCAT scores = 16.2 ± 0.5 vs. 17.0 ± 0.7 [ns] and total GPA = 2.68 ±
0.07 vs. 2.66 ± 0.07, respectively [ns]).
These groups were, however, distinguished by the summer program
(GPA = 83.5 ± 1.3% vs. 73.7 ± 2.2%, respectively [p < 0.01]).
Of the total of 26 students offered admission through the summer
program, three were lost for nonacademic reasons, but 21 of the remaining
23 students have received a D.O. degree so far (17/18 African American and
4/5 Mexican or Puerto Rican American students).
Because the pilot program was found to have only rectifiable
deficiencies, it or a comparable program should be implemented at most
medical schools because; (1) the rationale for the program still holds
true (For example and more broadly, see the Report of the Sullivan
Commission published last year and entitled, “Missing Persons:
Minorities in the Health Professions”) and (2) the program increases the
total number of underrepresented minority physicians (as recommended by
the Sullivan Commission and other such bodies) rather than increasing
competition among medical schools for obviously qualified applicants.
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