The Rhode to Medicine pathway program at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University has received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.
The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This year, the Medical School’s Rhode to Medicine program will be featured in the September issue of Insight Into Diversity.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Luckson Omoaregba, pathway programs director in the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OBEDI) at the Medical School.
First established in 2021, the Rhode to Medicine program offers hands-on experience for undergraduate students interested in careers in science and medicine. Students from underrepresented backgrounds have lower rates of application and acceptance to medical school, so “as part of the Medical School's commitment to diversifying the health care workforce,” Omoaregba said, “this program harnesses in-state talent to cultivate future health care providers.”
While all students are encouraged to apply for the program, Rhode to Medicine puts a strong focus on recruiting from underrepresented populations.
Joseph A. Diaz, MD, MPH, the associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs who oversees pathways programs for OBEDI, said an integral part of Rhode to Medicine is what happens when students complete the program. Brown faculty and staff maintain contact with participants to provide further guidance in their academic journeys and career paths.
“We’re doing regular advising check-ins, but we also use our foundational support to provide things like MCAT prep for them,” Diaz said. “We meet with them on a regular basis depending on where they are in their lives and potentially applying to health professional school. While there is a focus on proceeding into medical education, it’s not uniquely geared to medical school alone.”
“Rhode to Medicine was an early introduction to what medical school may look like,” said program graduate Keyline Moreno. Moreno was a biological sciences major at the University of Rhode Island while in the program and is now a medical student at Howard University College of Medicine.
Moreno said Rhode to Medicine showed her “where I could end up by introducing me to medical professionals who I could relate to.” Students are encouraged to maintain contact for questions about their career path, assistance with medical school applications, and opportunities for positions in their chosen field.
The success of the program is measured on the continued participation of students in health sciences, and maintaining close relationships with Rhode to Medicine students is an essential part of shepherding through the next stages of their academic careers.
“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity.
“We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM,” Pearlstein said. “We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”