Xavier University premedicine program's prescription for success: an interview with JW Carmichael Jr., MS, PhD

This interview of Dr. JW Carmichael was conducted for this special issue of the Journal of the National Medical Association, which highlights American medical education and the experience of African Americans. It was conducted by George Dawson, MD. He serves as editor of the Art in Medicine, History and Health Tidbit sections of the Journal of the National Medical Association. In terms of producing biology and chemistry majors, and, most importantly, from our perspective, premedicine students, the Xavier program is second to none. Under his leadership and with the help of his able staff, it has managed to supply more African-American healthcare students to professional school than any undergraduate programs we could find. Therefore, to us, it seemed fitting that we delved into his vast knowledge, in the hope that his example could be duplicated elsewhere and, perhaps, just maybe we can render the matter of the health disparaties that we speak of so often and that seemingly afflicts our community disproportionally.