AMA 'Doctors Back To School' Program Inspires New Generation of Minority Physicians in Chicago
Posted on: Friday, 9 September 2005, 12:00 CDT
CHICAGO, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Medical Association (AMA) today will kick off its "Doctors Back to School" program for this year in Chicago at the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine to inspire students to pursue careers in medicine. The program is part of an ongoing effort by the AMA's Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in medical schools.
AMA physician leaders will talk to students about their decisions to pursue medicine and their experiences as physicians. Speakers will include AMA Board of Trustees Secretary Joseph Heyman, M.D., and AMA Member Julia Dyer, M.D., a Chicago area gastroenterologist. The program will also include activities such as a medical terminology spelling bee, medical scavenger hunt and an EKG station to teach students more about the medical profession.
"I hope to serve as a realistic role-model for students and encourage them to work hard in school," said Dr. Dyer, noting that the student body at Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine is primarily minority students. "It is important to visit schools that serve our minority communities to let students know that if they want to become physicians, they can do just that."
"We want to encourage all children to pursue careers in medicine," said Dr. Heyman. "But, it is especially important to reach African-American, Hispanic-American and American Indian children because these populations are so underrepresented in medicine."
Together the three groups make up nearly a quarter of the U.S. population today and are expected to make up a third of the population within 30 years. But only seven percent of physicians and six percent of medical school faculty members are from one of these underrepresented minorities.
Despite overall improvements in Americans' health, minority Americans lag behind on nearly every health indicator, including health care coverage, life expectancy and disease rates. Studies indicate that minority physicians are more likely than white physicians to practice in underserved areas and care for minority, poor, underinsured and uninsured people.
"Our country is becoming more diverse every day, and our profession needs to catch up if we want to provide the best possible care for our patients," Dr. Heyman said. "Our 'Doctors Back to School' campaign is just one small step toward that goal. By calling attention to this growing need and sowing the seeds of interest in our young people, we hope we can grow the ranks of minority physicians."
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For more information contact: Toni Xenos of AMA Media Relations, 312-464-5557 or toni.xenos(At)ama-assn.org
http://www.usnewswire.com
Source: U.S. Newswire
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