Pipeline Programs in the Health Professions, Part 1: Preserving Diversity and Reducing Health Disparities
Abstract
Background Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the health professions. Affirmative action and educational pipeline programs play a vital role in increasing the diversity of health professions, addressing educational opportunity gaps, and reducing health disparities. Part 1 of this 2-part series discusses the need for educational pipeline programs to assist underrepresented minorities (URMs) in entering the health professions and the importance of these programs in developing a cadre of diverse providers to reduce health care inequality. Methods Part 1 presents an overview of diversity in the medical and health care workforce, educational enrichment programs, key components of successful pipeline programs, and notable pipeline examples for underrepresented students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Recommendations for improving and developing pipeline programs are also included. Part 2 reviews affirmative action case law and legislation along with recommendations for maintaining and reviewing diversity pipeline programs in light of recent anti-affirmative action challenges. Conclusion Pipeline programs are an important strategy for addressing the shortage of URMs in the health professions. Anti-affirmative action initiatives threaten the existence of these student preparation programs and the ability of our nation to produce physicians of color and other health care providers who are more likely to serve in underrepresented communities and work to…
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Prehealth pathway and enrichment programs continue to be key in recruiting, retaining, and advancing students by helping overcome these barriers and enhancing skills and competencies necessary to succeed in health care careers.
“Prehealth pathway and enrichment programs continue to be key in recruiting, retaining, and advancing students by helping overcome these barriers and enhancing skills and competencies necessary to succeed in health care careers.8”
From Impact of the Bronx Community Health Leaders Program for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Prehealth Students (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
Many institutions offer pipeline programs to address educational and social barriers to successful matriculation into health professional schools faced by economically and educationally underserved and/or URM groups.
“In response, many institutions offer “pipeline” programs, interventions addressing the educational and social barriers to successful matriculation into health professional schools faced by economically and educationally underserved and/or URM groups.8–12”
From Dreams Realized: A Long-Term Program Evaluation of Three Summer Diversity Pipeline Programs (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
Limited program evaluation data hinder program developers' ability to quantify successful attainment of stated goals.
“Limited program evaluation data hinder program developers' ability to quantify successful attainment of stated goals: A consensus on the methods and benchmarks used to define successful programs and the factors that influence them are lacking.8”
From Dreams Realized: A Long-Term Program Evaluation of Three Summer Diversity Pipeline Programs (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
A consensus on the methods and benchmarks used to define successful pipeline programs and the factors that influence them is lacking.
“Limited program evaluation data hinder program developers' ability to quantify successful attainment of stated goals: A consensus on the methods and benchmarks used to define successful programs and the factors that influence them are lacking.8”
From Dreams Realized: A Long-Term Program Evaluation of Three Summer Diversity Pipeline Programs (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
Cites
Cooper, L. A., Beach, M. C., Johnson, R. L., & Inui, T. S. (2006) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00305.x · Cited by 247 · see citing works
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Lightfoote, J. B., Fielding, J. R., Deville, C., Gunderman, R. B., Morgan, G. N., Pandharipande, P. V., Duerinckx, A. J., Wynn, R. B., & Macura, K. J. (2014) · Journal of the American College of Radiology · doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2014.03.007 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Dreams Realized: A Long-Term Program Evaluation of Three Summer Diversity Pipeline Programs
Stephenson-Hunter, C., Strelnick, A. H., Rodriguez, N., Stumpf, L. A., Spano, H., & Gonzalez, C. M. (2021) · Health Equity · doi:10.1089/heq.2020.0126 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Effect of Pipelines on Enrollment of Underrepresented Students in Healthcare: A Systematic Review
Tombers, N., Bauer, J., Boraas, A., Lundberg, J., Pfeifer, R., & Reinartz, C. (2023) · Education in the Health Professions · doi:10.4103/ehp.ehp_29_22 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Robles, J., Qadeer, R., Reyes Adames, T., & Naqvi, Z. (2021) · Health Equity · doi:10.1089/heq.2021.0065 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Smith, S. G., Nsiah-Kumi, P. A., Jones, P. R., & Pamies, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Sonya G.
- ORCID
- Smith, Sonya G.
- Venue
- Journal of the National Medical Association
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-09
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 836-851
- ISSN
- 0027-9684 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1840093766
- Cited by
- 157
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the National Medical Association (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Medical Education and Admissions
- Keywords
- underrepresented minorities, affirmative action, health disparities, medical school admissions, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Black or African American, Career Choice, Child, Employment, Female, Health Personnel, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, Minority Groups, Nebraska, Poverty, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Program Evaluation, Cultural Diversity, Health Status Disparities
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