Abstract
Background 
 Finding that enrollment of Underrepresented in Medicine students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences was considerably below the national average, researchers sought to understand the experiences of minority students. The goal is to develop an academic and social support structure that sustains and attracts students of diverse backgrounds and races.
 Method
 Individual interviews of eight matriculated Black medical students and a focus group were conducted, with Institutional Review Board approval, to obtain feasible methodologies and implement change. Student's perspectives and experiences regarding their institution were investigated using qualitative thematic analysis.
 Results
 The analysis revealed six themes from the individual interviews: Experience as a minority; Admission process; Difference in backgrounds; Curriculum culture; Diversity at the school; Military medicine. The overarching message from the students was “If you don’t see yourself represented somewhere, it’s hard to believe that you belong.” The focus group made four recommendations: Add a minority viewpoint to curriculum; Add textbooks that portray black skin; Collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Increase recruitment of Black students and faculty. 
 Conclusion
 It is hard for minority students to believe they belong in environments without the representation and infrastructure needed to support their unique needs. Implementing ideas, such as those described in this report, is an important step towards creating inclusion and equity.
Highlights
Under-represented in medicine (URM) groups are defined as racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population
Research has shown that Black students at predominantly white medical schools experience more stress than white students due to the perceived inadequacy of their academic preparation, poor interactions with faculty and classmates, lack of role models, environments insensitive to their cultural backgrounds, and implicit bias or racism.[3,4,5,6,7] question: What are the experiences of URM students at Uniformed Services University (USU)? What can be done to mitigate negative experiences?
How would you describe your experience as a minority student at USU in your interactions with faculty and students? Can you tell me more about that?
Summary
Under-represented in medicine (URM) groups are defined as racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population. URMs represent approximately 22% of students matriculating to allopathic medical schools across the nation.[2] The F. Research has shown that Black students at predominantly white medical schools experience more stress than white students due to the perceived inadequacy of their academic preparation, poor interactions with faculty and classmates, lack of role models, environments insensitive to their cultural backgrounds, and implicit bias or racism.[3,4,5,6,7] question: What are the experiences of URM students at USU? The lack of in-depth first-hand accounts of URM medical students led to our
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