Pipeline programs optimizing underrepresented minority matriculation to medical schools

Thesis (M.A., Education (Educational Leadership))--California State University, Sacramento, 2012.Healthcare disparities are the unequal health outcomes of specific groups of the population based on race, ethnicity, culture, or country of origin. Of the many strategies researched that disable and reduce these disparities are to increase the diversity of the healthcare workforce. Medical pipeline programs targeting underrepresented minorities play a key role in increasing medical workforce diversity. Some colleges, universities, medical education institutions and secondary schools have these medical pipeline programs aimed at equipping underrepresented minorities with the tools necessary to gain medical school acceptance.\ud \ud The objective of this study was to identify medical pipeline programs in existence that optimized underrepresented minorities matriculation to medical school. In such, this study was designed to compare and identify the relative effectiveness between three types of medical pipeline programs, K-12 level, college/university level, and post-baccalaureate level. This study also identified characteristics of effective medical pipeline programs and hopes to further the knowledge base used for evaluating medical pipeline programs targeting underrepresented minorities in medicine.\ud \ud This study employed two methodologies to collect data: survey instrumentation and personal interviews (transcript review). An optional online survey was distributed through the College of California???s Medical School office of diversity and volunteer participants were selected from this sample for personal interviews.\ud \ud Almost two-thirds of underrepresented minority medical students participated in some form of medical pipeline program, which they reported as having helped them gain admission into medical school. Less than 30% of students participated in college/university level pipeline program; however, greater than 70% indicated they believed college/university level type of programs to be the most effective type of pipeline program for preparing underrepresented minorities for acceptance into medical school. The large majority of students reported a strong motivational influence from a college level professor or advisor. Lastly, interview transcripts indicated the most powerful components for pipeline programs are the advising ones (academic, financial, medical school admissions, and life issues).Education (Educational Leadership