John Wheat in Alabama put together an article in the Journal of Rural Health (Spring 2003 p 181)
Wheat, JR, Brandon, JE, Carter, LR, Leeper, JD, & Jackson, JR. (2003). Premedical Education: The Contribution of Small Local Colleges. 19(2), 181-189.
noting the usual college sources of medical
students and examining each of these groups, including the Group I private and
public
college sources with lots of applicants accepted, the group 2 schools with
some accepted, the group 3 schools with an occasional student making it but
much greater diversity in the background of the students. then 2 other
groups. Study group 2508 matriculants in Alabama
Working with the Group 3 schools and candidates, and less traditional
sources of candidates does result in a broader group of applicants and many
of these have characteristics associated with family medicine, rural
practice choice, and service to the underserved. Drop out rates were twice as
high as other sources of students, raising the question of cultural context,
social support, and equity in education as points for intervention.
Working with Group 3 schools, small rural state colleges in towns of about
5000 people has worked well for us in Nebraska and for these colleges. RHOP
Links
Cooter also noted a higher attrition rate of 6% in the lowest quartile of
Jefferson students, compared to 2% for the middle quartiles nad 1% for the
highest income. The choice of family medicine in the high income group was 13%
compared to 22 % for the low income group. see comparisons at
Medicine, Education, and
Social Status
Response to this in Rural Med
Reading the latest BBC news on my PDA, I came across an interesting article
about a sub Dean at the University of Sheffield in the UK on an 'affirmative
action' program to attract students from a wider variety of backgrounds to
medical school (i.e. not upper class and privileged) - kids who might not
otherwise be given the time of day by the medical school admissions committee.
The Sheffield's Outreach and Access to Medicine Scheme (SOAMS) program sounds
interesting, and after spending an afternoon with 70+ first and second year med
students (showing them some basic skills and trying to get them thinking about
rural family practice) I wonder if something like this could also be applicable
to recruitment specifically for rural medicine.
I profess to be ignorant about similar schemes elsewhere, although I am aware of
some of the data looking at rural experience in undergrad years and its impact
on practice location for both generalists and specialists. I'd be interested in
any informed feedback about the success of the above program, or direction to
look on the Web for similar.
Thanks.
Mike
Michael Caffaro MD CCFP
117 Jasper Street
Hinton AB
CANADA
T7V 2A8
Telephone 780 865 2203
Fax 780 865 7383
http://www.shef.ac.uk/rao/recruitment/outreach/soams/soamsintro.html