515 - CHAM-CHL: Implementation of a sustainable, pre-health student-driven pathway program supporting underrepresented minority students to increase diversity in Pediatrics

Poster Number: 515
Publication Number: 515.2783

Background: Pathway programs for socioeconomically disadvantaged and underrepresented in medicine (URM) students with academic and financial barriers facilitate entry into the healthcare workforce. Despite these programs, URM in the pediatric healthcare workforce in low-resource communities persists and needs to be addressed.

Objective: Implementation of a sustained student-driven pediatric pathway program for URM pre-health students in a Children’s Hospital in an underserved community.

Design/Methods: Children’s Hospital at Montefiore - Community Health Leaders (CHAM-CHL) employs program elements to support attainment of competencies identified by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) for entering medical students.

A program leadership team of three pre-health student coordinators and four pediatrician mentors convened to implement: 1) A calendar of curricular activities; 2) A peer review and selection process; 3) Student-coordinated community service activities, near-peer mentoring, scholarship, clinical and professional development opportunities; and 4) Training materials and curriculum to enhance competency in the care of marginalized pediatric populations.

Results: Between February and October of 2021, student coordinators held 20 program planning meetings with each other and key stakeholders to develop a mission statement, recruitment plan, program name, logo, website, application, curriculum, program evaluation research protocol, grant applications, community partnerships, student orientation, community service, and clinical opportunities.

CHAM-CHL launched in October 2021. Over two years, 94 didactic meetings were organized, including weekly presentations by 37 faculty, 10 residents/fellows, 6 medical students, and 38 students. In addition, 2 clinical skills workshops, led by four pediatric residents on each occasion, were delivered to 6 and 14 students in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Currently, CHAM-CHL has 30 pre-health students identifying as Hispanic/Latinx (33.33%), Black/African American (26.66%), Asian (26.66%), Other (13.33%).

All CHAM-CHL medical school student applicants have received an acceptance, one in 2021 and 2022, and two in 2023.

Conclusion(s): Using a student-led infrastructure, the CHAM-CHL pediatric pathway program was successfully implemented and sustained for the past two years. It may contribute to addressing the need for providing pediatric specialty-focused mentorship for pre-health students' entry to a health professional school program through longitudinal leadership, community service, and clinical opportunities.