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INTRODUCTION
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Throughout the country, communities continue to suffer from a shortage of
health professionals. Many communities designated as Health Professional
Shortage Areas or Medically Under-served Areas are economically disadvantaged
communities with predominantly under-represented minority populations. Students
from these communities who pursue a career in the health professions often face
significant academic, financial, and/or psychosocial challenges. Yet it is
essential that these students succeed because their service as health
professionals is desperately needed in their home communities—and they are five
times more likely to serve in or near those under-served communities than their
peers.
Existing programs designed to improve retention and graduation rates for at-risk
students in medical schools focus primarily on helping undergraduate students
gain admission to health sciences professional schools. Although gaining
admission is an important milestone, professional education marks the beginning
of a new set of challenges for students. The demanding science-based curriculum
and intense pace of medical studies is often overwhelming, even for experienced
students. Demands outside of school, such as family responsibilities and the
added expense of professional education, can also create new difficulties for
students in professional schools. Student retention and support services
designed for the general undergraduate and graduate student populations are
insufficient to address the particular needs of graduate students in medical
school.
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OBJECTIVE |
| To improve the academic performance of under-represented
minority students as demonstrated by an increase in the passing rate of first
year from 82% to 90%, an increase in the four-year graduation rate from 80%
(average for under-represented minorities) to 91% (school average) and an
increase in the overall graduation rate (graduation in four or more years) from
93% (average for under-represented minorities) to 95% (school average) over the
three-year period of the grant. Also, CUSOM will utilize the Center of
Excellence grant to enhance the Office of Academic Affairs to better serve URM
students. |
Student Performance Links |
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