Background

In 2002 the MSSM Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs became a federally funded HRSA Center of Excellence, one of the first of its kind on the East Coast. This formalized a 30 year history of pipeline programming that has introduced more than 7,000 disadvantaged youth. A nationally recognized Center, it provides centrally coordinated support and programming at every level from high school and collegiate programs to medical school, residency and faculty development. CMCA has had significant success in providing a rewarding a successful experience for underrepresented minorities facing multiple barriers to access health careers. CMCA faculty reach out to students providing programs that not only guide but also provide opportunities for clinical excellence and research. CMCA's faculty development program provides support to faculty enabling them to focus on clinical and biomedical research experiences and achievements that inform local and national public policy directly impacting reduction of health care disparities among racial/ethnic minorities.

What's Special about CMCA

CMCA provides an environment which nurtures minority students. Student and faculty alike see the Center as a haven where camaraderie and education go hand in hand. In the classroom, the laboratory and within the Center, each is encouraged to succeed and given tools to succeed. The high school experience in the summer science programs has opened the way for many who consider medicine as a career option. Those who select to study medicine at Mount Sinai are embraced by the faculty of CMCA and guided through their medical school and residency experiences. Faculty are able to serve as much needed mentors while, they themselves are given protected time to embark on research that impacts health care disparities. The testimonials from students and physicians alike confirm what is unique about this program.

• "At the age of 15, I started working with Dr. Bottone in his microbiology laboratory. I was learning about the latest laboratory techniques and sitting in lectures in one of the world's leading hospitals. I could not have been prouder of myself. For the first time, I was presented with the idea that if I studied and worked hard, I could one day become a doctor, and work in a hospital like Dr. Bottone. I hope to specialize in community psychiatry and to work with the underserved immigrant population in New York City." A. Hurtado, M.D. (MSSM Alumni)
• "Participating in the Summer Research Fellowship Program is the most rewarding experience I've had as a premedical student. It helped me confirm my decision to become a doctor and expanded my horizons in the medical field." M. Rivera (Summer 2005 Research Fellowship Program for Collegiate Students)
• "For three consecutive summers I had the privilege of participating in the Summer Research Fellowship Program. This program has provided many wonderful opportunities for me to explore and discover new passions. Moreover it has embraced me with the confidence and encouragement necessary for my undergraduate science studies at Brown University." Y. Perez (MSSM Class of 2010, Mount Sinai Scholars and CMCA MedBound program participant.
• "As a product of participating in the Faculty Scholars Program, I also serve as a mentor to medical school students through the Mentoring Opportunities in Research and Education Program. Importantly, the Center continues to involve me in potential research opportunities and prospective program development." J. Christie, M.D. (Faculty Scholars Program, 2002-2004)

Questions Often Asked

How does CMCA engage underrepresented youth in the sciences?

Through the Pipeline Program for high school and college level students, CMCA partners with local area public high schools and colleges. Through these partnerships CMCA reaches out to minority students, engaging them in a summer science experience that gives them a chance to see that a career in medicine is not only exciting but actually attainable. These youngsters wear lab coats and shadow physicians involved in research participating in the work that their mentors are doing. For many of these students, this is the first time they have been invited into a school of medicine to experience first hand what it is like to be a physician. The impact of this experience is immeasurable. A well-known alumni of the pipeline program is Angela Diaz, M.D., who is now a full professor at MSSM and is the Director of The Mount Sinai Hospital Adolescent Health Center which provides confidential comprehensive medical, mental health, family planning, and health education services to young people between the ages of 10-21.

What is the institutional commitment to diversity?

A Cultural Competency Curriculum provides every first-year medical student an understanding of the community dynamic in where medicine at Mount Sinai takes place. Students understand the cultural context in which medicine must be delivered in order to be successful. One such program is the popular "East Harlem Walking Tour". Throughout the learning experience students are intimately involved in the broader Mount Sinai community. The student learning experience is not limited to on campus learning but expands to the surrounding community providing a learning exchange opportunity between student and community members. The learning experience is augmented by opportunities to study community health policy and a review of research that deals with health disparities/community health and takes place in an environment that is supported and mentored. These experiences are carried out through the CMCA Journal Club offered as an elective to second year medical students, the Summer Health Services Research and Golden Family Community Pediatrics Award programs, the annual Community Health week, and through our advisory and coordinating roles with a variety of medical student organizations.

Why is it important to include a faculty development component?

Students need role models that look like them, understand their culture and can relate to their backgrounds. A faculty body that illustrates the institutional commitment to diversity confirms to our students that yes, it is possible to be a doctor. The impact of role models cannot be underestimated. Students are comfortable and confident that they too can be a doctor, a researcher, a success. Thus, the Faculty Development program of CMCA emphasizes faculty career development opportunities and guided pathways to grow and maintain a robust and diverse faculty body.

How does research impact health disparities?

Biomedical and behavioral research among health disparity populations allows us to understand how to diagnose and treat ethnic/minority populations. The clinical and biomedical research that faculty perform has led to several nationally recognized scientific achievements that have provided public policy experts with key information regarding the health care delivery of underrepresented minority groups.

For example:

• Yasmine Hurd, Ph.D., Professor, Pharmacology And Biological Chemistry Professor, Psychiatry - The research group investigates the neurobiology underlying drug abuse and related psychiatric disorders. The work is focused on the systematic study of the human brain of drug abusers and subjects with psychiatric disorders in relation to opioid neuropeptide, cannabinoid, and dopamine neuronal systems.
• Danielle Laraque, M.D.,Professor, Pediatrics is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in injury prevention, child abuse, adolescent health risk behaviors and in the issues critical to health care delivery in underserved communities. She has served on the Mayor's Task Force for Child Abuse and helped establish standards for referral of abused children for emergency medical services. She is a member of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Bright Futures National Health Promotion Workgroup. Most recently she has focused her research and training activities on children's mental health. Dr. Laraque is the recipient of numerous academic, research, community and public service awards. She serves on numerous committees both locally and nationally. Since her recruitment as Division Chief for General Pediatrics here at Sinai, a major focus has been placed on growing of innovative clinical pediatric programs.

Who are CMCA's community partners?

The extraordinary partnerships Mount Sinai School of Medicine has developed spans every aspect of the community from businesses, schools, social service agencies to faith based organizations. These relationships have served an integral part of the School enabling it to leverage its ability to provide a dynamic environment where synergies are created and community oriented medical care and research takes place. Key community partners include a diverse network of community based organizations, community health and other health provider organizations, and public health and academic institutions located in East Harlem.

Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs (CMCA):

• Funded in 2002 as a Center of Excellence in Minority Health by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Formal Center designation in the School of Medicine since 2004
• Over a 30 year history of success in pipeline programs that engage and prepare students in high schools and colleges for health professions careers
• Clinical, basic science, and health services research in the area of health disparities providing significant contributions to the health care delivery system
• Medical student, resident and faculty programs that provide mentoring, career development and encourage research in health disparities
• Strong multi faceted partnerships with communities that allow integration of community oriented care and service learning
• Cultural competency education integrated into the learning experience of every medical student

CMCA's Success in Training Diverse Physician Workforce

• Over past 30 years, engaging over 7,000 youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain early exposure and advance towards careers in health and science
• The number of minority medical students increased from 15% to over 20% from 1998 to 2007
• Increase in minority residents in Mount Sinai training programs from 5% to 10.4% from 1998 to 2007
• In 2005, almost 50% minority graduates remained in Mount Sinai training programs
• Since 2002, 16 URM clinical and basic science faculty have been recruited to MSSM and twelve basic science and clinical URM faculty have been promoted in rank
• Since 2001, when CMCA was established there has been a growth of 3% in underrepresented minority faculty from 4% in 2001 to over 7% in 2007
• Engaged 25 junior faculty, including 5 from North General Hospital, in formal research training and academic development programs and supported 48 pre-doctoral students in mentored research over the past 3 years