The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) has extended the application deadline for its undergraduate mentorship program. Applications are now due October 25, 2023. The program supports a diverse array of trainees along their path to becoming a physician-scientist. We engage trainees from all over the country, including minority-focused institutions, to participate in the program. Mentorship entails monthly meetings between graduate student mentors and prospective MD/DO/PhD trainees. Our mentorship program covers a range of topics including the physician-scientist career path, applications to graduate programs, research opportunities, and psychosocial factors such as hardships, social belonging, and imposter syndrome. We also connect trainees to a number of resources through APSA, including networking sessions and national conferences. Ultimately, we aim to expand the next-generation of physician-scientists that encompass the diverse talent in our communities.
Why it Matters
- The current number of MD-PhD trainees meets only 50% of the demand for physician-scientists (NIH)
- Only 4% of faculty at medical centers are ethnic minority females
- Black students encompass 22% of APSA undergraduates, but only 4% of MD/DO-PhD APSA trainees.
Our Impact
- 1041 undergraduates and 971 graduate students participated in the mentorship program in 2020- 2022, and 95% continued in the program for at least one year
- 25% of undergraduates and 6% graduate students identified as a racial or ethnic minority in the program. Our goal is to increase the representation at both levels.
- The program conducts a workshop on imposter syndrome and social belonging for everyone
