Advocates in Medicine Pathway 2.0: Promoting Inclusion of Rural and Underrepresented Students in the Physician Workforce

At a Glance

This project, titled Advocates in Medicine Pathway 2.0, seeks to improve representation in medicine in North Central Wisconsin by addressing barriers to medical school for rural and underrepresented medicine students from this region. Strong doctor-patient relationships are crucial to providing excellent health care and such relationships are best facilitated by having physicians that represent the people that make up the local community. Students from rural, underserved communities are most likely to return to those areas to practice medicine, but these students often face barriers to matriculating to medical school.

The Challenge

Strong doctor-patient relationships are crucial to providing excellent health care and such relationships are best facilitated by having physicians that represent the people that make up the local community. In North Central Wisconsin, where a significant portion of the population is classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and the city of Wausaaw has the highest Hmong per capita population in the country, there is a distinct need for physicians who can provide culturally competent care. Students from rural, underserved communities are most likely to return to those areas to practice medicine, but these students often face barriers to matriculating to medical school including financial limitations, limited exposure to medicine, lack of academic opportunities and preparation and lack of mentors.

Project Goals

This project seeks to improve representation in medicine in North Central Wisconsin by addressing barriers to medical school for rural and underrepresented medicine students from this region and providing knowledge and experience for students to help them become competitive medical school applicants.