Studies state 70% of students in STEM after-school programs have increased interest in these careers. Through Neurology, we would like to mirror this initiative specifically to the medical field, identify barriers and quantify outcomes of early intervention programs with a parallel education/mentorship/leadership effect.

By 2050, US census predicts half of the population will be of races other than white. Under-Represented Minorities (URM) in medicine are defined as African-American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Native American, Pacific Islander. Due to historical events, access to health care, and socioeconomic backgrounds, these groups are more likely to delay care,  costing billions of dollars for prior preventable diseases. There exists an enormous disparity between the diversity of the population we treat and the physicians that reflect them.  Recent statistics (2015) show all URM in medicine combined represent only 11% when compared to whites (67%). To reduce costs and bridge this gap, requires a multifaceted approach. One target is to start from the root: via programs of education to increase the efflux of minority physicians from medical school pipelines.

12-16 Course program within an -at risk- school: 1) Introductory classes in Neuroscience, the road to medical school, and culturally competent medicine 2) Mentorship pairing with Student National Medical Association (SNMA) 3) Student presentation on Black History in Medicine 4) Sheep brain dissection. 5) Survey prior and post completion.

To be conducted during Black History Month Feb 2020: Brentwood, New York.  Results to be presented at 2020 AAN Conference.

There is a persistently low rate of historically underrepresented minorities in the physician workforce. Rising census numbers and health care costs of these same groups are inevitable and culturally competent physicians will be the crux of the future delivery of health care. Early intervention programs for these groups are the vital first step to bridge this divide.