Office of
Health Professions Advising

PreHealth Information and Opportunities

For Students Underrepresented in Health Care Professions

What Does “Underrepresented” Mean?

“Underrepresented” means populations that are underrepresented in healthcare professions relative to their numbers in the general population. For more information from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), follow this link.

Why Is It Important To Increase the Number of Underrepresented Students in Healthcare Professions?

Some reasons include:

• To provide diversity in health care training to promote understanding and sensitivity
• To break down stereotypes
• To extend equal education to all individuals regardless of their background
• To create role models for future generations of healthcare providers
• To reduce social and ethnic disparities in healthcare treatments and outcomes

What Information/Programs/Opportunities Are Available to Underrepresented Students?

Many health professional schools have information on their web sites about enrichment programs, summer and research opportunities, scholarships, groups, support services, etc. for underrepresented students. We strongly encourage you to investigate web sites of schools to which you may apply.

Listed below are resources listed by the AAMC and the National Association of Advisors of Health Professions (NAAHP).

American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC):
Although you may not be interested in becoming a physician, the AAMC has helpful general information for underrepresented students interested in a career in the health professions.  Go to their Minorities in Medicine web site to find information in the following categories:

1.  AspiringDocs.org. A free resource for undergraduate minority students. Utilize this website’s tools and features to learn more about the medical school admissions process and the practice of medicine.

2.  Medical Career Fairs. By attending medical career fairs, you can learn about various medical and health-profession schools, summer enrichment and research programs, and additional resources that can help you prepare for a career in the health professions.

3.  Minorities in Medical Education: Facts and Figures.  A periodic publication for students, medical educators and administrators, and policy makers that provides detailed racial and ethnic statistical information on medical education in the U.S.  Provides race and ethnicity data on medical school applicants, accepted applicants, matriculants, graduates and faculty.  You can download this publication for free.

4.  Minority Student Opportunities in the US Medical Schools (MSOUSMS).  This biennial publication is part of the AAMC’s effort to assist medical schools in increasing the number of qualified applicants from groups currently underrepresented in medical education. The publication provides students, premedical advisors, counselors, and others with up-to-date information and descriptions of programs designed to provide opportunities for racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in medical education to pursue careers in medicine.  To order, call 202-828-0416. Cost $15.00.

5.  Summer Medical and Dental Enrichment Program (SMDEP).  This program, funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, was created to help promising, highly motivated students gain admission to medical schools.  Studies have shown that students who participated in a preentrance enrichment program had an increased probability of medical school acceptance and higher proportions of pass and honor grades in medical school.  SMDEP offers 6 weeks of free educational enrichment.

6.  The Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR).  Students applying to medical school who are from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in medicine or are economically disadvantaged are given the opportunity to register for Med-MAR at the time they take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Med-MAR was created to enhance admission opportunities for groups currently underrepresented in medicine. The program’s registry distributes web-based basic biographical information on prospective medical school applicants to admission offices of AAMC members and certain health-related agencies interested in increasing opportunities for students from underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged individuals. The registry is updated twice a year, following each MCAT, at no cost to students or medical schools.

7.  Financing Your Medical Education. Early management of educational loans and finances has significant long-term benefits. A school’s financial aid office is the best starting place for resources, help with applications, aid/funding options, and financial aid awarding policies and procedures. The AAMC also has several financial resources available.

• Types of Medical School Financial Aid: Download

National Association of Advisors of Health Professions (NAAHP). NAAHP has a great web site for students with information that includes prehealth resources, summer opportunities, research opportunities, information for other healthcare professions, a list of comprehensive websites, and information on post-baccalaureate programs.

Explorehealthcareers.org
On June 1, 2007, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded ADEA a grant to administer and expand this site — a free, interactive health careers web site designed to explain the array of health professions and provide easy access to students seeking information about health careers.  Explore Health Careers is a joint initiative involving national foundations, professional associations, health career advisors, educational institutions and college students.

US. Department of Health and Human Services Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). HCOP enhances the academic skills of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and supports them in successfully competing, entering and graduating from health professions training programs.  There is also information on Student Assistance Programs.