Life
Profile: Dr. Kameron Matthews co-founder of the Tour for Diversity in Medicine
Minority medical students also can help their peers better understand needs and perceptions of patients with different backgrounds, a concept known as “cultural competence” in health circles.
However, minority students often struggle to get in the door. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges:
– 37.9 percent of black medical school applicants were accepted in 2007, compared with 44.6 percent overall.
– 59.1 percent of black students entered medical school in debt, over 10 percentage points higher than the next-closest race.
– 44.4 percent of black students entering medical school owed $25,000 or more on their pre-medical education, the highest among the races.
According to Hampton University students, lack of information, confidence or money can prove to be obstacles. So can reluctance to continue school after college.
“The whole idea of not being able to really work until you’re 30 doesn’t resonate well,” said Kyle Mason, 21, a kinesiology student from Minneapolis.
