Each issue of Diversity Exchange magazine features a symposium on a topical subject of interest not only to Florida International University (FIU), but to higher education in the United States and globally.

Recent symposia have dealt with preparing students and the academy in the new millennium, a special issue dealing with the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorism tragedy, and on student-faculty research.

The symposium in this issue of Diversity Exchange deals with the subject of diversity and the health professions. It features articles written by several FIU faculty members. For instance, in his article, “Epidemiology of Health Disparity and Diversity in Public Health,” Nasar Ahmed notes that historically, “diversity in health generally concentrated on cultural and racial variations. Although race and ethnicity are the prime bases to describe health disparity, health care providers must realize that addressing cultural diversity goes beyond superficially knowing the values, beliefs, practices, and customs of African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics/ Latinos, Native Americans/Alaska natives, and Pacific Islanders. Apart from racial classification and national origin, there are many faces of cultural diversity as described in its definition.”

Diversity and health are subjects that resonate powerfully with FIU’s institutional mission and pursuits. The university’s Millennium Strategic Plan, for example, identifies diversity as one of seven Institutional Values. The other values are freedom of thought and expression; excellence in teaching and in the pursuit, generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge; respect for the dignity of the individual; respect for the environment; honesty, integrity, and truth; and strategic, operational, and service excellence.

Beyond this, diversity and health feature prominently among the six Strategic Themes for the university outlined in the Millennium Strategic Plan: International; Environment; Florida and Local Economic Development; Health; Arts, Culture, and Diversity; and Learning Opportunities. Not only does health stand on its own as a Strategic Theme, but it also is a central aspect of the Florida and Local Economic Development theme.

In keeping with the Institutional Values and Strategic Themes, in July 2004, the FIU Board of Trustees approved a proposal for the establishment of a medical school. That proposal was presented initially to the Florida Board of Governors in January 2005 and again at their November 2005 meeting.

Extensive research conducted by a team of experts has demonstrated the need for a public medical school in South Florida. Among other things, the research documents the shortage of minorities entering the health professions in South Florida and the state as a whole, and it projects a major shortage of physicians in South Florida by 2015.

As part of the overall health and diversity thrust, in Fall 2004, the Honors College launched a medical education program in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine through which FIU Honors College students can be guaranteed a place at the USF medical school. Indeed, one of the students now in the second year of the program is a contributor to this magazine. Under the program, which has rigorous admissions criteria, including 1300 on the SAT plus a minimum of 3.7 unweighted high school GPA, students can pursue one of two tracks. The first is the accelerated track and entails completing the first three years of a baccalaureate degree program at FIU and then proceeding to medical school, with the first year in medical school credited toward the FIU degree. The second track is the traditional one; students begin medical school after completing the full four years of the degree at FIU.

As part of the initiative, the Honors College provides a Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute where students accepted into the program enhance their writing skills and are provided with science mentoring. The Honors College also underwrites the preparation for the medical school admission exam, the MCAT, and has established a Medical Education Resource Center to facilitate academic and social interchange by students in the program. Moreover, partly because of the tough retention requirements of the program, the college provides special advising to students, funds their field trips to the USF medical school, and helps organize the clinical experience they are required to secure before heading to medical school.

Remarks made by U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona to the Association of American Medical Colleges concerning racial diversity in medicine were noted in an FIU press release regarding the proposed medical school. According to the Surgeon General, “If Hispanic, black, or other minority children see Hispanic, black, or other minority doctors, they will likely see the profession as an option for them” (The Miami Herald, Friday, February 28, 2003). In response, the AAMC president, Jordan Cohen, said, “A reasonable balance in the racial and ethnic composition of our nation’s physician workforce is essential, if we are to care for an increasing population. No alternative to affirmative action in medical school exists for meeting that need” (The Reporter, Vol. 12, No. 6, March 2003). The AAMC has documented a critical need for more minorities in medicine, particularly because the proportion of minorities living in the U.S. is increasing, and existing health care disparities will increase. Minorities entering the health professions also are more willing to work in underserved population areas.

The following articles present several other insights into some of the diversity dimensions of the medical and health care professions. We trust you find them valuable.