1/ @pedsmd2b brought up how Blacks + Hispanics make up only 10.8% of the physician workforce and 13.3% of matriculants, despite these communities making up a combined 31.7% of the US population.
How does med admissions play a role in this? #Sharethemicnowmed
@Abdi_Abdullahi_
How does med admissions play a role in this? #Sharethemicnowmed
@Abdi_Abdullahi_
2/ The literature is clear: URM students perform worse than their White counterparts on the MCAT due to structural racism and SES status. Let me put this into perspective for you. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_ tinyurl.com/ydb2zx7d
3/ MCAT prep courses go for over $2,000. Committed to fulfilling my dream of becoming a physician, I asked my family for financial support. My family's annual income is $16,000; they spent 1/8th of their salary that year on test prep material. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
4/ While these companies offer discounts, how can med schools truly compare a student who can afford these resources and a student who can't? Can something so influenced by inequality be referred to as an objective measure? #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/5 The MCAT has shown predictive validity for Step 1/course work but admissions committees have to factor in the widely different circumstances under which students take this exam. Having the highest MCAT averages shouldn’t be celebrated. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/6 The SES disadvantage doesn’t stop there. There has been a proliferation of admissions consulting services, which cost up to 10K. These services essentially gift wrap applications, a luxury most Black & Brown students cannot access. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/7 A few other students and I founded @BridgingAdmissions to provide free mentorship to URM/1st gen students. Pipeline work like this often falls to Black & Brown students, but we need our medical schools to step up and do this work as well. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/8 Cracks in the pipeline have to be identified/addressed. How many URM students decide not to apply because a premed advisor told them they aren't good enough? Schools have to communicate why these students are valued/encourage them to apply #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/9 Even with FAP, $ of applying can be prohibitive. For 2 interviews, I slept at the airport overnight because I couldn’t afford to book a hotel room. Schools can help by only sending secondaries to students they are actually considering. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
/10 If medical schools want to increase the diversity of their cohorts, they can’t start with their admissions committees. Their efforts need to go further, by addressing inequities leading up to applying and investing in these communities. #sharethemicnowmed @Abdi_Abdullahi_
