Studies show that patients have better health outcomes when their doctors come from similar backgrounds and cultures
New York: NYC Health + Hospitals on Feb 8 announced a new initiative to encourage students, trainees and physicians from groups under-represented in medicine to join the system’s medical workforce. The new physician diversity initiative, Medical Opportunities for Students and Aspiring Inclusive Clinicians (MOSAIC), will work with students ranging from middle school through graduate medical education, as well as attending physicians, to increase diversity in medicine. MOSAIC received $500,000 from the health system’s unrestricted philanthropic funds to support the initiative. MOSAIC just launched its Visiting Scholars Program, placing medical students from backgrounds under-represented in medicine in clinical rotations at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities where they will gain experience in specialties ranging from emergency medicine to plastic surgery. The program will fund up to 10 scholars in its first year and up to 30 scholars per year in subsequent years. The application to the Visiting Scholars Program is available online, and the deadline to apply is April 28.
“Health care is not only one of the largest and fastest growing industries in New York City, but an opportunity to support our future generations,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “NYC Health + Hospitals’ new MOSAIC initiative will expose more young New Yorkers of color to working in health care and provide them access to mentorship from leaders in the field — paving the way for good, stable jobs and a bright future, while simultaneously giving New Yorkers access to doctors that have experienced many of the same issues they have had in the past.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to launch MOSAIC and invest in the next generation of clinicians,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We want young New Yorkers to consider a career in medicine and train here at NYC Health + Hospitals, one of the most diverse health systems in the nation.”
“There are far too few clinicians of color in the U.S.,” said Machelle Allen, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “MOSAIC will help us tap the potential in our community and help more youth pursue a career in medicine.”
MOSAIC includes programs to train and hire future and existing doctors:
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Visiting Scholars Program: Medical students and residents will spend four to six weeks in clinical rotations, simulation and experiential training to refine their professional development skills, gain clinical exposure, and strengthen their commitment to serving vulnerable populations. Visiting Scholars will receive either a $2,000 or $3,000 stipend (for a four- or six-week rotation) and a $2,000 housing allowance for scholars visiting from outside the NYC metro area. MOSAIC will fund up to 10 scholars in the first year of the program and up to 30 scholars per year in subsequent years.
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Youth training:
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MOSAIC will partner with Mentoring in Medicine to provide underserved middle and high school students with training, mentorship, and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparation to help expand the pool of students interested in going into careers in medicine.
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MOSAIC will partner with East Side House to help at-risk 16- to 24-year-old students train for careers in healthcare, including as a pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, home health aide, or nursing assistant.
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Recruitment: MOSAIC will create targeted recruitment and retention programs for attendings from groups under-represented in medicine to grow the diversity of NYC Health + Hospitals’ physician workforce.
