February 13, 2024
| Written by Jonathan B. Waller
Dr. Iris Reyes is helping open the door for a new generation of physicians from historically underrepresented populations in medicine (URiM) to achieve successful and impactful careers in medicine. .
Reyes, a professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (PSOM), founded the Minority Physician Alliance (AMP), led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), in 2012 to support these efforts. Since then, AMP's mentors and faculty have mentored URiM students and trainees at Penn State and CHOP, and the number of minority physicians trained in Penn State or CHOP's residency or internship programs has tripled since then. Did.
Currently, Reyes is working with diversity leaders from the Consortium of DEI Health Educators (CDHE), which represents six major medical schools in the Philadelphia region, to expand AMP to serve URiM students and professionals across the region. doing.
“As AMP expands, we are in a position to influence the future of URiM professionals, and ultimately the patients and communities we serve will be at the heart of and drive this research.” added George Dalembert, MD, MSHP, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine and associate director of the CHOP Center. Health equity.
In 2023, a grant from the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation's Institute for Health Equity accelerated this growth by funding programs specifically focused on recruitment and retention.
AMP leverages these partnerships to launch the Pathways to Excellence in Medicine (PEM) initiative, a new initiative that provides students with hands-on training, networking opportunities, expert perspectives, career guidance, and more .
“The IBX Foundation was very interested in creating a pathway for URiM students and trainees to put down roots and stay in the Philadelphia area,” Reyes said. “As we continue this growth, we have chosen to start from scratch and target our greenest medical students: first-year medical students.”
Open the door to mentorship
PSOM third-year Nasser Douge, a member of the PEM Mentorship Planning Committee, noted how intimidating it can be to reach out to established experts.
“For students, having a network of mentors and professionals provides a unique perspective from experts at every stage of their career,” Dooge said. “We strive to break down barriers by hosting events where students, advisors, and mentors can interact in a more open and relaxed environment.”
In December, PEM hosted the first Philadelphia-wide Student Mentorship Day, where 19 new mentees from six medical programs across Philadelphia met with medical trainee and faculty mentors at either Penn or CHOP. Matched.
Additionally, both current AMP members and Philadelphia-area URiM students interested in mentorship attended the event's afternoon session for networking and career guidance.
According to Douge, AMP's inclusion of each of the region's medical schools has had the special advantage of allowing him and other students to encounter a wide diversity of thought, training, and experience.
Providing guidance for the future of medicine
Dr. Claudia Gambrah-Lyles has been involved with AMP since her medical school days at PSOM. After she graduated in 2019, Gambra Lyles completed her residency in pediatric medicine at CHOP, and she is currently completing a dual residency in pediatric neurology at CHOP and Penn.
“Having the opportunity to meet and interact with AMP faculty and trainees at Penn and CHOP was one of the reasons I wanted to come to PSOM,” Gambura Lyles said. “As a medical student, I was eager to contribute to AMP’s mission by supporting each new student along their path.”
Since starting with AMP, she has worked with AMP to provide exposure, training, mentorship, and support opportunities for URiM students. Gambra Lyles currently serves on AMP's Advisory and Planning Committee.
Gambra Lyles takes pride in her work co-facilitating events such as PEM's first Med Immersion Day for the entire Philadelphia School of Medicine community.
At this event, more than 50 first- through fourth-year medical students rotated through cutting-edge training simulations, roundtable and panel discussions, and other hands-on activities specific to each year of undergraduate medical training. I did it.
In a training session focused on clinical emergencies, Professor Gambra-Lyles facilitated a module involving cardiac and respiratory monitoring of pediatric patients using a medical mannequin, guiding students through various clinical scenarios, and We shared guidance on interpreting and responding to changes in vital signs.
“It was very interesting to see the students apply what they learned to real-life scenarios that they would encounter as physicians,” Gambura Lyles said. “A few times I've had students who were nervous or didn't know what to do next. But I helped them get through it in a safe place where they felt safe and asked for help.'' I was able to.”
She remembers what it was like to be where they are now and understands that they may not feel comfortable enough to ask questions in a day-to-day medical school environment. “It can be difficult to show vulnerability or insecurity in an environment where you don't see anyone who looks like you,” Gumbula-Rees says.
“A lot of students came up to me after that and said, 'I'm thinking about pediatric neurology, but I've never met anyone who does it like you do.' Can we talk more about it later?'' she added.
Advancing medical excellence through lifelong professional development
Dr. CodyAaron Gathers developed an appreciation for the intersection of clinical care and public health policy during his medical school and residency at Boston Children's Hospital.
“There is a wealth of data showing the link between inequalities in the health care workforce and inequalities in patient health outcomes. Therefore, my interest in providing better services for critically ill children is driven by the need to address disparities in health care settings. It aligns closely with my interests in wanting to do that,” Gathers said.
He is currently pursuing a master's degree in health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and a pediatric critical care fellowship at CHOP. His work at AMP began shortly after arriving in Philadelphia, and he was particularly drawn to its focus on supporting continuing professional development.
As AMP expands, the Professional Development Committee has built a stronger program for a series of in-person seminars, attracting nationally renowned speakers, and welcoming URiM trainees from across the Delaware Valley. Seminars have covered a wide range of topics, from personal financial planning to microaggressions in the workplace.
“Through these professional development events, we explore these global topics and our experiences as underrepresented professionals who have had to navigate their academic and clinical careers differently than many white people. We've seen this unique interplay of what it means to all of us.'Please,''' Gathers said.
Expanding the circle through new initiatives and strengthening relationships
True to AMP's mission, opening our doors to a newer and more diverse generation of physicians requires planning, partnership, and persistence. More than a decade after AMP's founding, recent and continued growth areas reflect Philadelphia's diverse community and align with Reyes' initial commitment to foster a caring workforce that provides the best care possible. reflects the goals of
In early 2023, the program for first-year medical students was launched, and the year ended with the launch of AMP's IBX Foundation House Staff Scholars and IBX Foundation Faculty Mentors as additional aspects of the PEM initiative . In 2024, these scholars and leaders are spearheading the continued development of programming specifically for first-year medical students. The Penn Visiting Clerkship Program, which allows URiM fourth-year students from across the region to participate in clinical rotations in more than 20 specialties at CHOP, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital and HUP, will also continue this year.
