Insights & News

How a Bus Tour Is Inspiring The Doctors And Dentists Of Tomorrow

Unless the current trend is reversed, our country will see a growing ethnic and racial disconnect between those who receive care and those who provide that care. – U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD

One out of every four Americans belongs to a minority group. Yet out of every 100 healthcare professionals, only nine are minorities. Research shows that patients who get care from doctors of the same race are more satisfied with their visits and more engaged in their treatment.

If the past trends dictate the future, there will be even fewer minority doctors and dentists in coming years. This needs to change.

Change started with a bus tour.

The Tour for Diversity in Medicine is a grassroots initiative sponsored by the Aetna Foundation that is working to change this trend. The co-founders, both practicing physicians, realized that to improve ethnic diversity of health care providers, they needed to start with pre-med students on the local level. Many students don’t have the resources to find medical school recruitment fairs, so the Tour enables many students to receive the personal enrichment they need.

Last February, doctors, dentists and medical students hopped on a bus and went on their first tour to meet and mentor students at historically black colleges and universities in the South. They provided inspiration and encouragement alongside practical advice to help them get into medical school. Students left believing:

I can apply. I can graduate. I can practice medicine.

The Tour For Diversity in Medicine kicks off their third bus tour today. Destination: Texas.

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Starting today, 15 doctors, dentists and medical school students from across the country will travel more than 1,000 miles in six days to provide a full day of hands-on lessons for students on six college campuses throughout Texas. In Texas, African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans represent more than half the population, but minorities only make up one of three practicing physicians.

The Tour of Diversity in Medicine will help Texas students understand the medical school admission process, financial aid, admission tests, interviewing skills and more. Students will also have one-on-one interaction with mentors who will share personal stories and tips.

Communications For Better Living®

We’ve enjoyed working on the Tour For Diversity Initiative throughout the past year. We believe that communication is best when doing so improves the lives of others. This Tour is having a positive impact on so many future doctors and dentists.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Tour, and stay tuned here this week for new images and videos from the road.

Follow the tour:

Twitter: @Tour4Diversity

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TourforDiversity

Updates from the Tour:

University of Texas minority students mentored by minority doctors