The differences in access and healthcare outcomes among different ethnic and racial groups in our country is troubling. This is most notable among African-American, Hispanic-American, and American Indian populations. Florida legislators focused attention on this issue this year by passing “Florida Healthy People 2010”, which required the state to report on healthcare disparities, and the actions taken to correct them.
One solution offered is to increase the number of minority physicians. Studies have shown that minority physicians are more likely to treat minority patients, have a greater sensitivity to the needs of minorities, and have an increased acceptance among minority populations. Unfortunately, even though minorities make up over a quarter of our society, only 7% of U.S. physicians come from these minority groups.
To address this disparity, in 2004 the Seminole County Medical Society, the Seminole County school system, and the three hospitals in the county created a “Physician Mentor Program”, designed to encourage minority high school students to consider medicine as a career. The decision to go forward with the Program was a result of Resolution 03-19 passed by the Florida Medical Association House of Delegates in September 2003:
“Developing a Diverse Health Care Workforce” - FMA Resolution 03-19WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that “relatively little progress has been made toward the goal of eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare”; and
WHEREAS, The mortality rate for African Americans is approximately 1.6 times higher than that for whites—a ratio that has not changed since 1950; and
WHEREAS, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos are more likely to experience difficulty communicating with physicians, to perceive disrespect when receiving healthcare, and to experience barriers to care, including the lack of insurance or the availability of a regular doctor; and
WHEREAS, The development of a high caliber pool of physicians who are as diverse as America’s population is one way to close such racial/ethnic disparities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the FMA call upon medical schools to revitalize their efforts to improve the matriculation and graduation rates of minority students; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the FMA promote the maintenance, expansion, and reinstatement of programs that encourage minority enrollment in medical schools; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the FMA call upon medical schools to increase efforts to recruit and retrain minority faculty; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the FMA promote the career advancement of minorities in health care leadership; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the FMA seek additional funding for programs that provide healthcare in minority communities.
Highlights of the 2004 - 2005 Physician Mentor Program
The goal of the Physician Mentor Program was to increase the number of minority physicians by encouraging outstanding African-American, Hispanic-American, and American Indian high school students to consider medicine as a career; and to give those students a competitive advantage when they apply to medical school.
Handouts, posters, and seminars were created to allow Seminole County high schools to introduce minority students to the Mentor Program, and to the prospect of being a physician.
The Program encouraged all minority high school students (grade 9-12) to strive for the educational excellence and degree of personal discipline required for success in today’s society, and/or for becoming a physician.
The requirements for Program participation included achieving a certain grade point average, obtaining adequate references, and maintaining satisfactory course completion, attendance, and discipline records.
24 senior high school students from 7 different Seminole County High Schools were selected for the Mentor Program. They were each paired with a physician who will be their “mentor”.
To get exposure to the medical profession, students received first-hand experience at both physician offices and the hospitals.
Students and physicians were encouraged to continue the Mentor relationship into the student’s college years, for ongoing encouragement, direction, and recommendations.
The Mentor Program utilized the support of three “Sponsors” to help promote this Program — Seminole County gynecologist Dr. Claire Godfrey; Seminole County State Representative David Mealor; and NBA Orlando Magic player Grant Hill.
