Wade Faulk is an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He plans to pursue a residency and career in orthopedic surgery. Faulk is attending the Symposium as part of its Symposium University program.
During this morning's session, "The View from the Street," I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Pedro Jose Greer Jr. speak. He is assistant dean of Academic Affairs and chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society at the Florida International University School of Medicine. As a medical intern, he founded the Camullus Health Concern, which now serves more than 10,000 homeless individuals a year in Miami-Dade County. In 1991, he founded the Saint John Bosco Clinic, which serves disadvantaged people in Little Havana, and serves as its medical director. Dr. Greer is the recipient of many awards, including three Papal medals, the MacArthur Genius Fellowship and the Presidential Medal of Freedom Service Award. In 1994 he was named one of Time Magazine's 50 Young American Leaders Under the Age of 40.
Born to parents who emigrated from Cuba, Dr. Greer graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in chemistry and earned his MD from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. He spoke of the need to change how we educate medical students and practice medicine. He gave insight on how we need to be more aware of the social causes of disease and the realities of poverty and social injustice, stating, "We can take care of a patient's disease, but what we need to ask ourselves is what can we do to take care of his or her life." He overcame many obstacles as an individual of Cuban descent and a disadvantaged background. His story is absolutely awe-inspiring and helps me see where I can go, and reminds me to never forget where I came from.
Statistically, I am not supposed to be where I am in life. I was born to a mechanic father with a high school education and an immigrant mother who has not yet achieved her GED. Growing up, my parents were never able to clench a position for our family above the poverty line, but we still had a great life. The real challenge came when I was 14 years old. My father died suddenly from a heart attack at age 41. He was always my role model and his death was a crippling blow to my entire family. My younger brother was then only 3 years old and my mother, from South Korea, was forced to work at night for minimal wages as a result of her limited job choices in Julesburg, Colo. At the time of my father's death, I was the oldest male in our household and my two older sisters were away at college. Consequently, I was faced with the challenge of being a father-figure to my younger brother and being a breadwinner at 14 years of age. Each person in my family contributed in every way that we could to the family income and to provide moral support for one another. My sisters worked to support themselves in college and send home money for groceries and bills. For my contribution, I washed dishes at a local restaurant during the week and worked on farms and ranches on the weekends. I also took care of my brother. He came with me everywhere. I brought him to class with me some mornings when my mom was not able to make it home early enough from her night shifts. He would come with me to sports practice where he participated as the "waterboy" and I would play with him between drills. I excelled in school and in my athletic endeavors. My efforts were directed at setting an example for my brother and earning scholarships, which would enable me to attend college and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. Today, I am a fourth year medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine earning a dual MD/MBA.
As Dr. Greer alluded to, and as I have experienced, minorities in medical school are few and far between. Many more programs should be put in place to enable more minority and lower socioeconomic (these tend to go hand-in-hand) students to attend higher education. Medical schools across the U.S. must take responsibility for this lack of diversity, in both the student body and faculty and these schools should be held accountable if this issue is not addressed.
According to the AAMC Data Warehouse: Minority Physician Database, while African Americans and Latinos are among the fastest growing segments of the population, they are also the most severely underrepresented minorities in medicine. Today, African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans together make up 28% of the U.S. population. However, only 6% of practicing doctors come from these groups. Currently, only about 14% of students applying to and graduating from U.S. medical schools are African American, Latino, or Native American. In the next 15-20 years, the nation is projected to confront an overall shortage of physicians, but the need is, and will continue to be, particularly great for minority physicians. By 2050, racial and ethnic minorities are projected to account for half of the U.S. population. Although the number of minority students entering into medical school is increasing, this number is not growing at a rate that will ensure the nation has the supply of minority physicians it needs.
Studies show that minority physicians are more likely to treat minority patients and indigent patients and to practice in underserved communities. Studies also indicate that when minority patients can select a health care professional, they are more likely to choose someone of their own racial and ethnic background. These relationships are characterized by higher levels of trust, respect, and the increased likelihood that patients will recommend their physician to others. The nation needs a culturally competent health care workforce—one with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors required to provide the best care to a diverse population. Exposure to racial and ethnic diversity in medical school contributes importantly to the cultural competence of all of tomorrow's doctors. A diverse student body brings an array of ideas to the learning environment; helps students challenge their assumptions; and broadens their perspectives regarding racial, ethnic, and cultural differences.
Who knows who the next Dr. Greer (½ man, ½ amazing) will be, but more of us should be given that chance.
Works Cited
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AAMC Data Warehouse: Minority Physician Database, Applicant-Matriculant File, and AMA Physician Masterfile, as of March 16, 2006.
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AspiringDocs.Org: An AAMC Campaign to Increase Diversity in Medicine. 2006.
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Diversity in Medical Education: Facts & Figures 2008
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Diversity in the Physician Workforce: Facts & Figures 2006
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Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Smedley BD, Stith AY, Nelson AR (eds). Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare. Washington, DC: National Academic Press, 2003.
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Kaiser Family Foundation, based on Table 3: Annual Estimates of the Population by Sex, Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (NC-EST2007-03). Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau.
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U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division and Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division.
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