U of T launches Black Student Application Program to strengthen diversity in medical school

ullahnor — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 21:48:06 +0000

ullahnor Wed, 03/08/2017 - 16:48

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First year medical students from left to right, Yezarni Wynn and Chika Oriuwa (photo by Dan Haves)

Andrea Concil

Author legacy

Andrea Concil

Topic

City & Culture

Medicine

Black Students

Education

The University of Toronto is launching the first program of its kind in Canada to encourage more applications from black students. The Black Student Application Program (BSAP) will be in place for the 2017-2018 MD program admissions cycle.

“The current MD program student population reflects the fact that we aren't attracting many students from the black community. We want to change that,” says Dr. Patricia Houston, vice dean, MD program for U of T's Faculty of Medicine.

The black population in the GTA makes up approximately 8.5 per cent of the population, according to the 2011 census, yet it's a community that's under-represented in medical school.

Read more at CTV News

“By implementing BSAP, we hope to break down some of the barriers that might impede black students from applying and nurture an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all,” says Dr. Lisa Robinson, chief diversity officer in Medicine. “Studies show that increased diversity of medical students provides students with unique learning opportunities and ultimately leads to better physicians with a greater ability and understanding of diverse communities.”

U of T medical students train in a large network of academic and community-based hospitals, and health-care sites, which ensures that they are exposed to an extremely diverse patient population.

“We are fortunate enough to live in one of the world’s most multi-cultural cities – we need to be prepared to care for the diverse population we’ll be serving as future physicians,” says Yezarni Wynn, first year medical student and class co-president.

“Each medical student brings a wealth of different experiences with them to the class,” says Chika Oriuwa, a first year medical student. “We are constantly learning from each other – especially through small group learning activities. Having a medical school class that is diverse in many different ways introduces a dialogue that has the potential to shape the way we approach medicine.”

Research shows that a more diverse physician workforce improves access to care for underserved communities and provides better health care to all patients, including minority communities that face unique health challenges.

“Caring about a patient holistically means understanding how culture can impact health,” states Robinson. “We are not sacrificing excellence to achieve diversity. We are embracing diversity to achieve excellence.”

How it works:

BSAP is an optional application stream for black applicants who self-identify as Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, multi-racial students who have and identify with their black ancestry, etc.
Applicants must meet the same admissions requirements (MCAT, GPA and course prerequisites) as applicants through the general application stream
There will be no quota for the number of students admitted through BSAP
Applicants will be required to include an essay that is BSAP specific as part of their non-academic requirements
Applicant file review and interviews will include black physicians and/or community members
The MD program Black Canadian Admissions Subcommittee (BCAS reporting to the Admissions Committee) will have oversight of the process

“There is no single solution to fixing the problem of the under-representation of different racial and ethnic groups in medicine,” says Dr. Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. “We also don’t think our only challenge is to address the under-representation of black and Indigenous students in our program. Ensuring equity in medicine is a complex and long-term effort.”

BSAP is one component of the Faculty of Medicine’s broader strategy to increase the number of black medical students attending the MD program. Other initiatives include the summer mentorship program and community of support, a collaborative initiative that provides students with black or Indigenous ancestry, as well as students that face economic disadvantage, with access to mentors, job-shadowing, volunteer and research opportunities, medical-school admission information and guidance. This highly successful initiative has seen steady growth in membership since its launch in 2015.

“Our goal is to create a supportive community for black students that extends beyond the application process,” says Houston. “And fostering a sense of community is essential to the success of our students.”

Once accepted, students will be supported through the Office of Health Professions Student Affairs and through the recently created position of MD Program Black Health Theme Lead, which focuses on incorporating Black Canadian health issues into the medical curriculum for the entire medical class. The emphasis will be on offering mentorship opportunities and increased visibility of black physician role models. Medicine will offer continued support for student clubs and associations that promote a sense of community for black students, including the U of T Black Medical Students Association.

BSAP was developed in consultation with students, faculty, staff, members of the black community and black medical professionals.

U of T medical students explore community health

lavende4 — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:10:42 +0000

U of T medical students explore community health lavende4 Mon, 04/18/2016 - 12:10

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Medical student Laura Burgess (photo by Carolyn Morris)

Andrea Concil

Carolyn Morris

Author legacy

Carolyn Morris and Andrea Concil

Topic

With advanced medical treatment, many children struggling with cancer survive. But prolonged care often means they miss out on much of the social side of being a kid. This is where community initiatives like Camp Oochigeas – an organization providing summer camp experiences and recreational programming for kids with cancer, even during chemotherapy – step in.

“Programs like this are integral to help support people,” says Laura Burgess, a second-year medical student who has spent the past year collaborating with Camp Oochigeas staff members to collect and summarize the studies done on the camp’s impact. The document is intended as a resource for outreach and a foundation for future research. “Physicians are focused on medical treatment, but there’s so much more this population needs.”

Burgess spoke about the camp and her experiences to medical school colleagues, as well as community partners, at a community forum held last week at U of T. As part of a new medical course called Community, Population and Public Health (CPPH), first- and second-year students are partnered with Toronto community organizations that support health in a variety of ways. The aim is to explore the social determinants of health though a service-learning experience.

Community engagement is an important facet of the new Foundations Curriculum, which encourages an integrated approach to medical education. At the U of T event, second-year students shared their experience and reflected on how it might make them better physicians.

One student helped develop health and wellness seminars for seniors at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf. Another pair worked with front-line Children’s Aid Society of Toronto workers to create a list of income supports their clients may qualify for. Others worked with groups involved in housing for the homeless, childhood development, nutrition, diabetes education, rehabilitation and more.

“The community forum gives students the opportunity to share their experiences with their colleagues, faculty and community partners and highlights the role of partners and resources in the community,” says course director Dr. Allison Chris, a family physician and public health and preventive medicine specialist. “Students and community partners have the opportunity to reflect on the experience together.”

For Roxanne Wright, the course’s community health placement officer, it is important for students to get out of regular health care settings and into the community. “When you get into other contexts, you realize how you can really listen to people and lend your voice in a way that makes sense to them,” she says.

Burgess is not sure how much of an impact her work with Camp Oochigeas will have. “In the grand scheme of things, they do so much for the patients, families and communities they work with,” she says. Ultimately she hopes she and her colleagues will be better attuned to community resources and able to connect patients to supportive networks.