Increasing the pool of minority providers

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Disparities
• Minority Recruitment in Medicine

Background:

• The University of Arkansas has a 46-year history of training African-American medical students.
• The institution prioritizes recruiting and retaining minority medical students.
• Targeted recruitment addresses underrepresentation in medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the University of Arkansas's strategies for recruiting and retaining African-American medical students.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies on student academic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive recruitment programs targeting junior high schools in African-American communities.
• Initiatives to attract African-American faculty and residents.
• Retention strategies including lenient first-year grade requirements, study groups, and board-preparation courses.

Main Results:

• African-American students matriculated with below-average Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores.
• These students achieved scores above the national average on Part I of the National Medical Board Examination.
• Successful retention efforts contribute to improved student performance.

Conclusions:

• Targeted recruitment and robust retention programs are effective in supporting African-American medical students.
• These strategies can help close achievement gaps and improve outcomes for minority students in medical school.
• The University of Arkansas model demonstrates a commitment to diversity and academic success in medical education.