Pipeline program recruits and retains women and underrepresented minorities in procedure based specialties: A brief report.

As the US population continues to grow in racial and ethnic diversity, we also continue to see healthcare disparities across racial lines. Considerable attention has been given to creating a physician workforce that better reflects the population served by healthcare professionals. To address the low numbers of women and underrepresented minorities in procedural based specialties, Nth Dimensions has sought to address and eliminate healthcare disparities through strategic pipeline initiatives. This is a retrospective observational cohort study of 118 medical students from 29 accredited US medical schools, who were awarded a position in the Nth Dimensions Summer Internship program between 2005 and 2012. Overall, 84 NDSI scholars applied and 81 matched into procedure-based specialties; therefore the overall retention rate was 75% and the overall match rate across the eight cohorts was 72.3%. Through intervention-based change, the authors hypothesize that greater numbers in the residency training cohorts can lead to a greater number of physicians with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Ultimately, this will enhance quality of care for all patients and improve decision making process that influence healthcare systems.
SUMMARY: Strategic pipeline programs increase successful recruit women and underrepresented minorities to apply and matriculate into procedure based residency programs. This is a retrospective observational cohort study of 118 medical students who completed the Nth Dimensions Summer Internship program between 2005 and 2012. Overall, 84 NDSI scholars applied and 81 matched into procedure-based specialties; therefore the overall retention rate was 75% and the overall match rate across the eight cohorts was 72.3%.