MMA Foundation donates to diversity program
MINNEAPOLIS, February 27, 2008 - The Minnesota Medical Association Foundation announced a $10,000 donation Wednesday to Minnesota’s Future Doctors, an innovative program that identifies and assists undergraduate minority students who want to become doctors.
|  Gina Allen is a member of Minnesota's Future Doctors who became excited about medicine after an internship doing luekemia research with John H. Kersey, M.D., in 2004. |
“The Minnesota’s Future Doctors program has made a promising start and deserves the support from Minnesota’s medical community,” said Michael Ainslie, M.D., president of the MMA Foundation Board. “It is a good fit with our foundation’s goal of helping to bring medical care to underserved communities in Minnesota.” The program also provides an opportunity for physicians to volunteer to help students aspiring to be doctors, Ainslie said. The donation was made in January. Minnesota’s Future Doctors identifies outstanding undergraduate students from underserved communities and helps them further their dreams of becoming a doctor by exposing them to the world of medicine through a host of activities, such as shadowing physicians, learning about scientific research, and attending seminars.
The program also receives support from the University of Minnesota and Mayo medical schools.
"Reflecting the diversity of our patients is such an important issue as we educate the next generation of physicians. We are proud of this program and proud it has been recognized and supported by the physicians of Minnesota," said Deborah Powell, M.D., dean of the medical school.
About 50 Minnesota students are now participating in the program, which includes a three-week summer session and activities during the academic year. At full capacity, the program will include 150 students.
"This will help us maintain the program's momentum and continue to reach talented students across the state who might otherwise consider medical school beyond their reach," said Jo Peterson, Ph.D., director of Minnesota’s Future Doctors.
The program is seeking physician volunteers for its student shadowing program. To learn more, visit http://www.meded.umn.edu/futuredocs or contact Jo Peterson at 612/625-7951.
The Minnesota Medical Association Foundation, the charitable arm of the MMA, provides scholarships to medical students and supports a variety of efforts to improve access to high-quality health care throughout Minnesota.