Mentoring program builds a sense of community for minority students.

All students need support whether it's from family members, friends, or an organization. Members of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Student National Medical Association (SNMA), an organization devoted to supporting minority medical students, have developed a unique mentoring program and are working hard to provide support for each other in a challenging environment - medical school.

Partners for Success

"Partners for Success is a mentoring program that allows third- and fourth-year medical students to pass their knowledge and pearls of wisdom to the first- and second-year students," said LaKesha Randolph, M4. "It builds a tight community of support for students that is available whenever it's needed."

The members are celebrating their recent selection by the UI Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity to receive the student organization Catalyst Award for "outstanding and innovative contributions that enhance the University's commitment to achieving excellence through diversity."

Christopher Cooper ('87 BA, '91 MD, '97 R), associate professor of urology and associate dean for student affairs and curriculum, nominated the organization for the award.

"It is one thing to support diversity at an intellectual, academic and financial level, but at some point when you're trying to increase human diversity you must increase the human touch. Partners for Success has done just that. They've extended both a welcoming and supportive hand, literally, to our diverse students," said Cooper. "This is the kind of grassroots effort that's needed to really change the culture and environment. It's through their actions that I think will enable us to recruit and retain diversity in the College."

Since the organization began its efforts in 2004, there has been a 50 percent increase in underrepresented minority students and a 22.6 percent increase in all minorities from the entering classes of 2004-2006, as compared to 2001-2003. During the College's student interviews, a member of the group hosts prospective minority students.

Cathy Solow, assistant dean for student affairs and curriculum and director of admissions, manages the budget for the organization and serves as a point of contact within the College's administration. "Prospective students would rather hear from a current student about what it's like to go to Iowa," said Solow. "The group is a terrific example of peer mentoring and role modeling. They've worked hard to build a cohesive group of support. They are very active in recruitment and provide great feedback to the administration."

Within the organization, the older members try to convey to the younger students that they can help them with a variety of issues, from classes and choosing a specialty to personal life. "We try to be here for each other no matter what the issue is," said Randolph. "Medical school is rigorous academically and it can be challenging for students to maintain their studies while dealing with feelings of isolation. Many students are far from their families and friends."

Although the program is geared toward mentoring current students, the members are beginning to look for ways to foster relationships with minority undergraduates who are interested in medical school throughout the state of Iowa. Rosalio Rubio, M3 and a member of the organization, attended the University of California, Los Angeles, as an undergraduate and found the Chicano pre-med organization extremely helpful. "There were always students that I could talk to who were going through the same thing I was and it was a very useful support system," said Rubio. "The organization helped me get through my undergraduate years and into medical school."

Randolph said the group is trying to increase the number of minority applicants by reaching out to undergraduates, which should eventually increase the number of underrepresented medical students enrolled in the College.

As part of their outreach activities, they are creating a medical school workshop to answer questions about taking the Medical College Admission Test and applying and interviewing for medical school. Members also are investigating the possibility of visiting undergraduate conferences and universities to talk with minority pre-med students about the UI and create awareness about the College.

Alumni who are interested in assisting with this program can register for the College's Alumni Mentorship Initiative on the Medicine Alumni Society Web site.