AVONDALE, Arizona – Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) will be the hosting college of a national program intended to encourage and mentor minority students interested in medical careers.
The Tour for Diversity in Medicine (T4D), a grassroots effort started by two young doctors, will launch its February 2014 Tour, traveling to six western colleges and universities, to help minority students pursue careers in medicine and dentistry. EMCC was selected as the Arizona destination.
The free day-long conference/workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the EMCC campus located on 3000 North Dysart Road in Avondale, Arizona. It will provide a full-day, hands-on workshop for recent community college graduates, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students. Enrollment is limited to 150 and pre-registration is required. Preference will be given to students who are currently pursuing a medical-track degree program, or that have shown serious interest in the profession.
The T4D conference sessions focus on premedical academic achievement, the application process and other skills necessary for success in the medical and dental fields. Arizona-based college science educators and advisors, and current minority medical professionals, will be presenting and providing information relevant to the respective area of expertise.
Although African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans compose more than 26 percent of the U.S. population, they represent only 6 percent of practicing physicians and 5 percent of dentists, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. In 2011, African-American and Hispanic students made up only 15 percent of all U.S. medical school applicants.
Registration and more information are available at the T4D website, http://tour4diversity.org. Other stops for the T4D February Tour include Feb. 3 at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Feb. 5 at California State University Dominquez Hills in Los Angeles, Feb. 6 at Sacramento State University, and Feb. 7 at University of Nevada Las Vegas.