Factors that Influence Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) Medical Students to Pursue a Career in Academic Pediatrics.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of medical students who are underrepresented in medicine (UIM) from two urban medical centers with an interest in pursuing academic pediatrics. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted at Children's National Hospital (CN) at three different times with UIM medical students from two urban medical centers. The investigator team was comprised of both junior and senior UIM and non-UIM pediatric academic faculty with experience in qualitative research. Twenty medical students UIM from Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GWSMHS) participated in the focus groups. The medical students targeted were first, second and fourth years to review experiences pre-and post-third year clerkships. RESULTS: Eighteen of the 20 students completed the demographic data of which 16 identified as Black/African-American. Fifteen of the participants were female and 3 were male. Findings indicated that mentorship, serving as role models, working with children and seeing UIM academic pediatricians positively influenced the students to pursue academic pediatrics. Family had a major influence on students' interest to pursue medicine. A barrier to pursuing academic pediatrics for UIM medical students included educational debt and lack of knowledge about the field. The students felt that there were fewer expectations of them during secondary school years which affected them throughout their journey to medical school. CONCLUSIONS: Early mentorship for UIM medical students is important to increase exposure to academic pediatrics. Future study on the experience of UIM medical students and their pursuit of academic roles could help produce a more diverse workforce. Also, pipeline programs for students to be exposed to academic pediatrics early in their education career would be beneficial.

Factors That Influence the Choice of Academic Pediatrics by Underrepresented Minorities.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective for this study was to explore the experiences of faculty in academic pediatrics who are underrepresented minorities (URMs) at 2 urban medical centers, in particular, the experiences that influenced their pursuit of academic pediatrics. METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted in 2016 with URM faculty from Howard University College of Medicine and Children's National Health System to explore how they were influenced to pursue academic pediatrics. Ten 1-on-1 interviews were also conducted in 2017 with URM faculty at Children's National Health System. Focus groups were coded and analyzed by the research team using standard qualitative methods. The 1-on-1 interviews were coded and analyzed by the primary investigator and verified by members of the research team. RESULTS: A total of 25 faculty participated in the study (15 in the focus groups and 10 in individual interviews). Eighteen of the faculty were women and 7 were men. Findings revealed that mentorship, family, and community influenced participants' career choices. Barriers for URMs in academic pediatrics included (1) lack of other URMs in leadership positions, (2) few URMs practicing academic pediatrics, and (3) the impact of racism and gender and implicit bias in the medical field. CONCLUSIONS: Mentorship and family are major influences on why URMs become academic pediatricians. Lack of URMs in leadership positions, racism, gender bias, and implicit bias are barriers for URMs in academic pediatrics. More research should be conducted on ways to enhance the experience of URMs and to reduce barriers in academia.