Mentoring in Medicine (MIM) on ABC Here and Now
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and Friends of NLM continue to be among the sponsors of Mentoring in Medicine (MIM). This nonprofit outreach program works with disadvantaged minority students to spark their interest in healthcare careers and, ultimately, to help diversify the healthcare work force. You can read more about Mentoring in Medicine in the Summer 2011 issue of NIH MedlinePlus magazine and at medlineplus.gov.
Founded by Dr. Lynne Holden and several medical colleagues, MIM includes programs for underrepresented students from elementary school through graduation from a health professional school.
Resources from Elementary through Health Professional School
“Mentoring in Medicine has designed programs for students from elementary school through graduation from health professional school,” Dr. Holden writes. These programs include: Recruitment—large conferences and symposia that educate pre-high school students and their parents about medicine, nursing, and allied healthcare professional career opportunities High School—after-school and in-school curricula on advanced biology concepts, organ systems, diseases, and an introduction to healthcare concepts and health career pathways College/Post-Baccalaureate—mentoring and strategic planning for school admission, including study skills, test preparation, and internships.
Find out more about the Mentoring in Medicine program here.
Increasing Healthcare Diversity
Dr. Holden, president of MIM and member of the FNLM Board of Directors, realized her dream of becoming a medical doctor and now helps others achieve their goals of becoming healthcare professionals. Dr. Holden’s story was recently featured on CNN’s Health blog, available here. Dr. Holden writes, “According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, African American, Latino, and Native Americans make up 25 percent of the population, but they account for only 12 percent of U.S. medical school graduates.” By educating young people about health careers and health problems in their communities, MIM will both diversify the healthcare workforce and address health disparities in minority populations.