Class of 2020: Highest Number of Minority Medical Students Ever

— COM recognized as national leader in recruitment, retention and graduation of African-American medical students —

Charleston, SC — The Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine (COM) has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as having the fifth largest number of African-American medical students in the U.S., outside of historically black colleges and universities. In addition, the American Association of Medical Colleges ranks MUSC COM in the 96th percentile for medical schools with the most African-American students.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, COM enrolled 129 underrepresented minority (URM) medical students, or 18 percent of the medical student body. Of those students, 95 (13 percent of the student body) identified as African-American. The class of 2020 has 19 percent URM students, continuing the upward trend.

MUSC recognizes that the solution to increased diversity in the physician workforce starts with bringing minorities into medical education, and is focused on recruiting, supporting and graduating diverse medical students through a number of initiatives. For example, the cost of a medical education is a hindrance to many students, and particularly URM students.

Since 2012, MUSC’s “Opening Doors” medical scholarship program has funded 27 scholarships to URM students to ease their financial burden as they pursue medical careers. For a deeper look at recruitment and retention efforts for COM URM students, see the links below:

 

MUSC College of Medicine Diversity Initiatives:

URM Student Pipeline Programs for development and recruitment
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/diversity/programs/pipelineprogramsNEW.htm

URM Student Mentorship for development and retention
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/diversity/programs/studentprograms.htm

URM Resident recruitment, development and retention
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/diversity/programs/McClellan-Banks

URM Faculty recruitment, development, and retention
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/diversity/graph_faculty.htm

 

About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 700-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic programs or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit www.muschealth.org.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Heather Woolwine
(843) 792-7669
woolwinh@musc.edu