The Medicina Fellows Program

• In Event: 29.036 - Building the Latino Pipeline for Medical Careers: The Hispanic Center of Excellence Experience

Abstract

The Medicina Fellows program culminates the pipeline approach of the Center. It is a two-year program aimed at enriching the experience of first- and second-year Latino medical students; and it is based on a holistic approach of student development. The curriculum consists of seminars related to medical topics, advising, development of curriculum, and activities to develop and further enhance the participants’ academic, cultural, and interpersonal capital. The program goals are: 1) To assist and prepare incoming Latino medical students with their transition into medical school and the medical field by further developing their interpersonal skills and knowledge, and 2) to prepare them for the USMLE.



The topics focus on community and leadership issues that are not addressed in the regular curriculum. Participants delve into topics such as health disparities and social determinants of health and their impact on Latino communities. They explore the wide range of opportunities in medicine and receive support as they prepare for critical licensing examinations. The presentation will address the educational needs of Latino medical students in a rigorous educational environment and approaches that have been used to mitigate issues of stereotype threat common to minorities in professional program.

Author

• Juan Pablo Mosqueda, University of Illinois at Chicago