CAIMH Summer Programs

56 NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS BEGIN SIX-WEEK MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ON CAMPUS

June 20, 2006 (Duluth, MN) -- 56 Native American students from as far away as Montana and as close as Fond du Lac, MN near Cloquet this week began a six-week intensive series of study in the field of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth.   The program is organized and sponsored by the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH).  Federal funds that support CAIMH have been cut which will affect whether this program and others continue in their current form.  Other sources of funding are being investigated.

Participating students include accepted medical students from the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth and Twin Cities campuses, undergraduate college students and high school students exploring careers in medicine.  The summer series have taken place since 1973. 

During the six-week program high school students experience what it takes to become a physician.   Undergraduate students participate in a pre-medical program, a set of courses for prospective or entering students to gain early exposure to the rigorous academic expectations of medical school.  Current medical school students are involved to support and teach the NAM (Native Americans into Medicine) students and by encouraging, mentoring and advising them.

The University CAIMH program is one of four Centers of Excellence that focus on developing Native American physicians.   Three others are in the states of Washington, New Mexico and Oklahoma.  Of $33 million in federal money in fiscal year 2005 established for the

Centers, no federal money will be available for the Centers in 2006.   The Center in Duluth depends on federal funds for 83% of its budget.

“Since the first director of CAIMH was named in 1990, we expect to double the number of Native Americans becoming physicians and the numbers continue to increase”  said Joycelyn Dorscher, MD, Director of CAIMH.  “This is a valuable program but we’re at a critical tipping point.   Loss of support will tip this very effective program in the wrong direction, which is why we are working hard to seek new sources of funding,” she added. 

ABOUT THE CENTER OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND MINORITY HEALTH

The goal of the University of Minnesota Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) is to raise the health status of the Native American population by educating Native American students in the field of health care and Indian health. CAIMH provides support to Native American students to attain their medical degree, with many returning to their communities to deliver culturally sensitive health care.     

The Indian Health Pathway (IHP) was developed by CAIMH to support American Indian pre-health profession students and medical school students through all stages of their education. The IHP stresses the importance of allowing each American Indian student to retain unique qualities and belief systems that are the essence of being American Indian while progressing through the education system.