Lifting as We Climb: The Development of a Support Group for Underrepresented Minority Medical Students

Abstract

Abstract: Structural racism affects health care systems and leads to disparities that impact medical treatment. The lack of multiracial and multiethnic representation among health care professionals negatively impacts outcomes for patients, who often distrust medical treatment across racial and ethnic lines. This article discusses the origin and development of an affinity psychotherapy group for racial and ethnic minority medical students at a medical school. To address the mental health needs of those who are underrepresented in medicine, the group supported students while offering interventions to address the impact of institutional racism on their lives and careers. The author draws on some of her personal experiences in describing the group’s development and process to illustrate the fostering of support.