Pathways to Medicine.

ABSTRACT

Early exposure to health careers has the potential to improve diversity in the health professional workforce and reduce health provider shortages in Rhode Island and across the United States. Rhode Island alone has 13 federally designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (PCHPSA) and 12 Medically Underserved Areas (MUA). To help increase healthcare access for individuals residing in these areas and promote diversity within the RI health workforce, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University established and/or supports multiple pathway programs to provide early health career exposure to students. This approach empowers and supports students from various backgrounds to see themselves as future healthcare professionals. These programs work to create a more well-rounded healthcare workforce equipped to serve the state's diverse patient population.