Abstract
Since 1987, nearly 450 high school students have participated in the High School Intern Program (HIP) led by the Science & Health Education Partnership (SEP) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Acceptance is not contingent upon grades, students’ being solidly on a path to college, or commitment to a science career. Rather, HIP seeks students for whom this program could make a critical difference through engagement with research projects, peer learning, mentorship, and college counseling. The majority come from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences (minority, low-income, from families without a history of college going, and/or students with disabilities). Interns become comfortable working in a laboratory, begin to conduct experiments independently, learn to present scientific research in oral and written formats, and, critically, begin to see the opportunities available to them should they pursue post-secondary education. Longitudinal studies have documented tremendous outcomes for HIP alumni. College matriculation rates exceed 95% annually, while student demographics predict only approximately 60% of these students would continue their education after high school. HIP alumni, many of whom enter the program unsure of their plans after high school, pursue post-baccalaureate education and are now serving as science and health professionals in significant numbers.
Highlights
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of increasing diversity in the biomedical sciences workforce, significant disparities persist in academic, clinical, and industry settings
African-Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are significantly underrepresented in the physician population with only 9% of US physicians identifying as members of these groups, while they comprise 29% of the US Population over age 18
This paper describes a longstanding high school summer research program based at a premier biomedical research university
Summary
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of increasing diversity in the biomedical sciences workforce, significant disparities persist in academic, clinical, and industry settings. Recent investigations into National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding found that only 5% of NIH-funded principal investigators are from underrepresented groups (Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Workforce, 2012). African-Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are significantly underrepresented in the physician population with only 9% of US physicians identifying as members of these groups, while they comprise 29% of the US Population over age 18 The number of African-American males entering the medical profession is declining (National Academies, 2018). There is an ethical imperative to broaden participation in the biomedical workforce as this underrepresentation holds profound implications for our nation, impacting our ability to advance health equity, while limiting access to fulfilling and secure careers to growing segments of the US population
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