Herbert C Smitherman1, Anil N F Aranha, De'Andrea Matthews, Andrew Dignan, Mitchell Morrison, Eric Ayers, Leah Robinson, Lynn C Smitherman, Kevin J Sprague, Richard S Baker. 1. H.C. Smitherman is vice dean of diversity/inclusion and community affairs and professor of medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2567-922X. A.N.F. Aranha is associate director (academic) in diversity and inclusion/medical education and internal medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9251-409X. D. Matthews is director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3021-3723. A. Dignan is chief information officer and chief administrative officer, Health Centers Detroit Foundation, Inc., Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1132-4647. M. Morrison was an intern, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, at the time of writing, and is currently a clinical research associate, IQVIA/Roche & Genentech, Cincinnati, Ohio. E. Ayers is medicine-pediatrics program director in internal medicine and Associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1845-1825. L. Robinson is director of academic support, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3894-5918. L.C. Smitherman is vice chair pediatric medical education and associate professor of pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7783-9582. K.J. Sprague is associate dean of admissions, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5352-5087. R.S. Baker is vice dean of medical education and professor of ophthalmology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Wayne State University School of Medicine's (WSUSOM's) 50-year premedical postbaccalaureate program (PBP)-the first and oldest in the United States-in achieving its goals, as measured by medical school matriculation and graduation, primary care specialization, and current practice location. METHOD: A retrospective study of a complete comparative dataset of 9,856 WSUSOM MD graduates (1979-2017) was performed in July-August 2018. This included 539 graduates who were admitted to the PBP between 1969 and 2012. Data collected included PBP students' sociodemographics, postgraduate specialization, residence location at time of admission to the PBP, and current medicine practice location. Health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and medically underserved areas/populations (MUA/Ps) were determined for residence at admission to the PBP and current medicine practice location. RESULTS: Of the 539 PBP students, 463/539 (85.9%) successfully completed the PBP and matriculated to WSUSOM. Of those, 401/463 (86.6%) obtained an MD, and of those, 233/401 (58.1%) were female and 277/401 (69.1%) were African-American. Average investment per PBP student was approximately $52,000 and for a MD graduate was approximately $77,000. The majority of PBP MD graduates with current practice information resided in HPSAs or MUA/Ps at admission to PBP (204/283, 72.1%) and were currently practicing in HPSAs or MUA/Ps (232/283, 82.0%), and 139/283 (49.1%) became primary care physicians (PCPs). Comparison of WSUSOM PBP and non-PBP MD graduates showed PBP physicians become PCPs and practice in HPSAs or MUA/Ps at higher rates than non-PBP physicians (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The PBP was successful in graduating a large proportion of physicians from socioeconomically disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, that practice as PCPs, and that practice in HPSAs and MUA/Ps, thereby accomplishing the PBP's goals of helping to address the broad health care needs of all people in the United States.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Wayne State University School of Medicine's (WSUSOM's) 50-year premedical postbaccalaureate program (PBP)-the first and oldest in the United States-in achieving its goals, as measured by medical school matriculation and graduation, primary care specialization, and current practice location. METHOD: A retrospective study of a complete comparative dataset of 9,856 WSUSOM MD graduates (1979-2017) was performed in July-August 2018. This included 539 graduates who were admitted to the PBP between 1969 and 2012. Data collected included PBP students' sociodemographics, postgraduate specialization, residence location at time of admission to the PBP, and current medicine practice location. Health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and medically underserved areas/populations (MUA/Ps) were determined for residence at admission to the PBP and current medicine practice location. RESULTS: Of the 539 PBP students, 463/539 (85.9%) successfully completed the PBP and matriculated to WSUSOM. Of those, 401/463 (86.6%) obtained an MD, and of those, 233/401 (58.1%) were female and 277/401 (69.1%) were African-American. Average investment per PBP student was approximately $52,000 and for a MD graduate was approximately $77,000. The majority of PBP MD graduates with current practice information resided in HPSAs or MUA/Ps at admission to PBP (204/283, 72.1%) and were currently practicing in HPSAs or MUA/Ps (232/283, 82.0%), and 139/283 (49.1%) became primary care physicians (PCPs). Comparison of WSUSOM PBP and non-PBP MD graduates showed PBP physicians become PCPs and practice in HPSAs or MUA/Ps at higher rates than non-PBP physicians (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The PBP was successful in graduating a large proportion of physicians from socioeconomically disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, that practice as PCPs, and that practice in HPSAs and MUA/Ps, thereby accomplishing the PBP's goals of helping to address the broad health care needs of all people in the United States.