Medical School Hotline: Teen Health Camp Hawaia??i: Inspiring Hawaia??i's Youth to be Healthcare Leaders of Tomorrow

摘要

The John A. Burns School of Medicine is committed to improving the health of the citizens of both the State and the Pacific Basin. An integral component of this goal is to recruit and retain local students in the healthcare professions. Disadvantaged ethnic groups typically do not have the educational or financial resources to prepare for college.1 Furthermore, there is a lack of role models and mentors who can provide guidance, support and motivation, to encourage minority students to consider careers in the health professions.2 This is especially true for rural areas in the state of Hawai‘i.3 Studies have suggested that increased patient satisfaction and better patient outcomes occur when the patient and physician are from the same ethnic group.4,5 This discrepancy is highlighted in Hawai‘i where 4% of the physicians are Native Hawaiians although Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians make up greater than 20% of the population.6 This trend is similar for other Pacific Islanders (Micronesian and Polynesian).4 Innovative and low cost programs are needed to attract students from ethnic minorities into the health professions.