Outcomes of an Intervention to Increase Physicians Underrepresented in Medicine in Occupational Medicine Training.

Context: Diversity in the US physician workforce is important. Physicians Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) are more likely to serve poor, uninsured, and vulnerable populations.

Objective: To increase the number of UIM physicians in Occupational Medicine.

Program: An Inclusion and Diversity Committee, consisting of the program director, trainees, and graduates, was created with the goal of recruiting and developing UIM residents and increasing Occupational and Environmental Medicine awareness. Outreach to UIM residents and medical students at local, regional, and national meetings, creation and distribution of descriptive brochures, and supervised 1-day observerships were some of the interventions.

Results: Only 4 Underrepresented Minorities physicians out of 65 (6%) graduated during the first decade of the program 1997-2007; this increased to (16/70) 23% during the following decade subsequent to establishing the Inclusion and Diversity Committee.

Conclusion: A multifaceted strategic approach can help increase UIM physician participation in graduate training programs, helping address health equity.