SEALS: an Innovative Pipeline Program Targeting Obstacles to Diversity in the Physician Workforce.
Medical schools may find implementing pipeline programs for minority pre-medical students prohibitive due to a number of factors including the lack of well-described programs in the literature, the limited evidence for program development, and institutional financial barriers. Our goals were to (1) design a pipeline program based on educational theory; (2) deliver the program in a low cost, sustainable manner; and (3) evaluate intermediate outcomes of the program.



SEALS is a 6-week program based on an asset bundles model designed to promote: (1) socialization and professionalism, (2) education in science learning tools, (3) acquisition of finance literacy, (4) the leveraging of mentorship and networks, and (5) social expectations and resilience, among minority pre-medical students. This is a prospective mixed methods study. Students completed survey instruments pre-program, post-program, and 6 months post-program, establishing intermediate outcome measures.



Thirteen students matriculated to SEALS. The SEALS cohort rated themselves as improved or significantly improved when asked to rate their familiarity with MCAT components (p < 0.01), ability to ask for a letter of recommendation (p = 0.04), and importance of interview skills (p = 0.04) compared with before the program. Over 90 % of students referenced the health disparities lecture series as an inspiration to advocate for minority health. Six-month surveys suggested that SEALS students acquired and applied four of the five assets at their college campuses.



This low-cost, high-quality, program can be undertaken by medical schools interested in promoting a diverse workforce that may ultimately begin to address and reduce health care disparities.
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Cassandra D L
CD
Fritz
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Valerie G
VG
Press
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Darrell
D
Nabers
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Dana
D
Levinson
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Holly
H
Humphrey
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. mvela@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.|Biological Sciences Learning Center, Suite 104, 924 East 57th St., Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. mvela@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Monica B
MB
Vela
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D008913:Minority Groups; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical
Diversity; Enrichment programs; Liaison Committee for Medical Education; Medical curriculum; Minority medical students; Pipeline programs