Encouraging Interest in Health Science Career: A Model for Hispanic Undergraduates
Alex Marti¹; Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Ph.D²; Gilandra K. Russell, M.S.³; M. Fernanda Nota, MD⁴
1: School of Medicine
2: Department of Pathology
3: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
4: Department of Pediatrics
Diversity Committee – School of Medicine - University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Pediatrics
Methodology
Increase
interest
and
recruitment
undergraduates in science careers.
of
Hispanic
The second day was devoted to
medical/nursing careers. Students gathered
at a community center where medical/nursing
activities were developed.
What is your grade?
Area of Interest
20
12
18
Blood Pressure
Measurement
10
16
8
6
4
Carolina Imhoff , RN
“Adelante Hispanic Achievers”
Health Science Center – U of L
6
2
Pre activity (26 Students)
Junior
Science
Senior
Post Activity (15 students)
Non Science
Areas of Interest other than science
(26 Responses)
Auscultation of
Heart and Lungs
9%
7%
30%
11%
Claudio Maldonado, PhD
Claudio Maldonado, PhD
7%
25%
Each professional spent 30 min to share with the
undergraduates their unique stories of why they
chose a science/medical career, discussed
specific jobs and provided information about
education requirements.
11%
Drama/Art/Music
History/Geography/SS
Computing/Communications
Engineer/Math
Law
Business
Sports
Undergraduates expressed their interest in
science lessons and experiments at school
and agree that science is useful in everyday
life.
Alex Marti
Barriers to achieve career degree include:
Money problems 84%, “not being smart
enough” 15%, family problems 7%; work
before studies 4%, being Hispanic 7%.
14
Alex Marti
Changes in Pulse Before and After Activity
Barriers to achieve career degree
24
12
22
Fabian Crespo, PhD
Guillermo Rougier, PhD
The first day was dedicated to basic science
careers, and students were given a tour of U of L
Health Science Center, where they visited two
laboratories, and the Medical School library. They
participated on hands-on activities related to each
professional’s area of expertise.
10
20
18
8
16
Strongly Agree
Agree
6
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
4
10
4
Emily Tan, MD
Working with Growth Charts
Rafael Fernandez, PhD
12
6
2
Fernanda Nota, MD
Guillermo Rougier, PhD
14
8
2
0
A special thank you to Mara Maldonado, Director; and
Hannah Mael, Volunteer Coordinator/Community Liaison of
“Adelante Hispanic Achievers” for making this project
possible, and their commitment and genuine advocacy to
the Hispanic/Latino youth in Louisville.
8
0
Number of Students
The change of interest in science after the intervention was
not statistically significant, likely due to our small sample.
However the survey helped to assess which factors our
Hispanic undergraduate students see as barriers to
obtaining higher education degree.
We believe our
multidisciplinary career day workshop is a good model to
encourage Hispanic youth interest in higher science
education careers.
10
0
A two-day science career workshop was offered to a local
Hispanic youth group conducted by Hispanic professionals
from different University of Louisville departments. Students
participated on hands-on activities related to each
professional area of expertise.
Conclusions
12
2
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Freshman Sophmore
Pre and Post activity anonymous surveys were obtained.
Interest in science increased by 23% post intervention, P
value 0.2243 (Chi-square).
14
4
Methodology
Results
Science was chosen in 23% (6/26) and in 46%
(7/15) in pre and post activity surveys
respectively. Interest in science increased by 23%
post intervention; P value 0.2243 (Chi-square).
Pre and Post activity anonymous surveys
were obtained from 26 students on the
first day of the workshop, and from 15 on
the second day.
Frequency
Objective
A two-day science career workshop was offered
to “Adelante Hispanic Achievers”
“Adelante” members are Hispanic/Latino middle
and high school students. The organization’s goal
is to encourage post secondary-education
achievement and professional careers.
Hispanic professionals from different U of L
departments were invited to participate, a
biologist/anthropologist,a biologist/paleontologist,
an immunologist, a physiologist, a registered
nurse and two physicians. Also third-year
medical students were actively involved and
collaborated with the activity; one of them as
presenter.
Number of Students
Nationwide Hispanics are 16% of the population yet
represent only 3.6% of doctoral degrees. At the University
of Louisville only 2% of the 22,031 enrolled students are
Hispanic. A way to provide health care service that
overcomes language and cultural barriers is ensure that
our health care system addresses the needs of diverse
communities by recruiting members of the latter into
higher education health careers.
Results
Number of Students
Background
Pre and post activity anonymous surveys
were obtained. Surveys included: Grade in
school, areas of interest, interest in reading
science books or watching science TV shows,
and barriers to achieve career degree.
I find scientific I look forward I do not have I think science I like to do
topics boring
to science
interest in
is useful in experiments in
lessons in
science
everyday life
science
school
0
Money Problems
Family Problems
Acknowledgements
Fabian Crespo,PhD: Dept. of Anthropology
Carolina Imhoff, RN: Norton Health Care
Claudio Maldonado,PhD: Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics
Guillermo Rougier,PhD: Dept. of Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology
Emily Tan,MD: Dept. of Pediatrics
Natalia Paez & Agustin Ramirez: Third Year Medical Students
Not being smart
enough
Work before
studies
Hispanic
background