The Propel Center Launches New Internship for HBCU Students Interested in the Medical Field
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With the increase in chronic health conditions amongst Americans, careers in the medical field continue to be in high demand. However, there is a possibility that many of these positions won’t be filled in the future. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), there will be almost 122,000 unfilled physician jobs by 2032 (AAMC). Thankfully, Black students are enrolling in medical school at a record rates, with enrollment rising 21.0% from the 2020-21 school year. The fall 2021 freshman class marks the largest and most diverse first-year medical school class than ever before (AAMC).
To continue record-breaking medical school enrollment rates, The Propel Center recently announced a new internship to expose more Black students to opportunities in the healthcare field.
On March 17th, The Propel Center, an organization aiming to increase equity and equality for HBCU students through various educational and research opportunities, announced Propel-BDHEA internships. The national internship program will select high-achieving HBCU and other Black or African American students wanting to pursue a career in medicine or other healthcare-related fields. The internship program is a partnership between The Propel Center and BDHEA (Black Directors Health Equity Agenda), an organization fighting to eliminate health disparities and inequities that negatively affect the health outcomes of Black Americans, and INROADS, Inc., which develops programs aimed to help minority groups excel in their careers.
“HBCU students are an incredible source of talent who can help bring quality care to under-resourced urban and rural areas, improving access to care and patient outcomes. The intensive Propel-BDHEA program cultivates the leadership skills that will magnify their impact on healthcare organizations and communities of color,” said Michele Richardson, BDHEA board member and executive sponsor (via TMCNET).
A total of 100 students will be selected to participate in the program. Interns can expect to be mentored, work on research projects, participate in job shadowing, and complete courses throughout the program. The upcoming cohort will focus on research on maternal and child health, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, telemedicine, and much more (Business Insider).
To learn more and apply, visit INROADS.org/internships-program. The application period is open and will close on May 1, 2022. Chosen candidates will receive notification of acceptance into the program in May 2022.