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New office provides information and inspiration
A vision that started in theory four years ago is now reality at BWH. The Minority Career Development Office has officially been established under the direction of O’Neil Britton, MD, and with support from a dedicated staff. The office was created to enhance BWH’s ability to recruit minority medical students to BWH and better mentor them when they arrive as residents and throughout their tenure.
“Before this office was officially opened, our concerted efforts were simply a labor-of-love. Our outreach to third and fourth year medical students was run mostly on a volunteer basis,” said Britton, who explains that the office now institutionalizes such recruitment activities and also adds the components of mentorship and retention to complete a comprehensive support network and resource for minority physicians.
“We raise awareness and pass on the word that BWH is a great place to train,” said George Ruiz, MD, chief resident for Internal Medicine and active staff member of the Minority Career Development Office. Ruiz and other minority physicians share with medical students their stories of how they came to train and practice at BWH. Students of Boston University, Tufts and Harvard, as well as those at various regional meetings, have been audiences for Ruiz and the other BWH physicians. Plans are now in the works to visit Duke and medical universities in the Washington, D.C. area in the coming months. “This office works as an outreach to the minority community. We take on the challenge of recruiting the brightest medical residents,” added Ruiz.
In addition to recruiting the brightest of medical and scientific talent, the office will work to retain such talent and help them with their career track at BWH.
“This office serves as an investment into the future of BWH,” said BWH’s Associate Chief Medical Officer Robert C. Goldzer, MD, MBA. “O’Neil and the other dedicated physicians have been and will continue to be instrumental in further shaping a physician population to better reflect our patient population.”
With the establishment of the office, all who are involved are striving toward setting and maintaining the same set of goals, with the main aspiration being to serve as a “steady pipeline of talent from the minority community to BWH,” according to Britton.
“Once students are here, we steward them through the infancy of their careers. Hopefully, as the years go by, this will help talented physicians build their careers at BWH and achieve prominent positions within the institution,” said Ruiz.
A celebration and open house will be held on January 21 in the Deland Board Room (PBB4) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.in honor of the new Minority Career Development Office. All staff are welcome to attend this event. Refreshments will be served. Call 617-525-7354 for more information on the open house.