ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE-STUDENTS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN MEDICINE

The authors reviewed the literature published from 1965 to 1996 to ide ntify enrichment programs for underrpresented minority college student s sponsored by medical schools and affiliated programs, finding 20 suc h programs. The programs reported in the literature underestimate the number and variety of programs known to exist by about two thirds. The authors categorized the reported programs according to the types of c omponents they contained. Most programs contained more than one compon ent type. Eighteen of the programs had an academic enrichment componen t. Thirteen programs included components focused on preparation for th e admission process. Mentoring activities were a component of only fou r of the programs. Eighteen of the 20 programs were evaluated in the l iterature. The largest focus of evaluation activities was the success of program participants entering medical school. While the medical sch ool matriculation rate was quite high, these results were difficult to interpret as the studies did not use control groups. The evaluations could not: demonstrate, therefore, that the programs were responsible for increased admission of minorities to medical schools. Relatively f ew studies measured the immediate effects of the programs' efforts. Fu rther, there was even less evidence of which program components in par ticular were effective. A more public and energetic discussion of thes e programs in the medical education literature is essential. In a poli tical and social environment that calls for accountability, programs m ust be able to clearly and truthfully declare what they have accomplis hed. Without this type of public-discussion, enrichment programs for u nderrepresented minorities may continue to appear to be worthwhile end eavors, but lacking solid support and foundation and vulnerable to los ing funding.