FAMILY MEDICINE MINORITY CAUCUS
In November 2002, residents and faculty at the Columbia University Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program founded the Family Medicine Minority Caucus.
GOALS
- Recruit minority residents for our residency at local and national levels
- Stimulate interest in and awareness of the family medicine specialty for minority medical student and pre-medical student groups
- Create and participate in outreach projects to minority communities in Inwood, Washington Heights, Harlem, and the greater New York City metropolitan area
- Provide social support for minority residents and faculty
- Stimulate learning within the residency and medical school communities about minority health issues and disparities, cultural competence, social advocacy, and politics.
ACTIVITIES
At Columbia P&S Medical School, our residents and faculty provide support, teaching sessions, and mentoring for the Black and Latino Medical Student Organization, the Office of the Dean of Minority Affairs, and the Summer Medical Education Program (formerly the Minority Medical Education Program) for premeds.
Our group also provides outreach to minority medical students at national conferences hosted by the Student National Medical Association, Howard University, and other organizations.
The Family
Medicine Minority Caucus participates in numerous community outreach programs.
The Salon Health Outreach Project (S.H.O.P.), for example, provides health education to the women of Washington Heights.
Every month, the patrons of a local beauty salon select a health care topic they want to know more about.
The residents prepare a 15-minute presentation on this topic, which they present at the beauty salon in both English and Spanish. The presentations are then followed by 45 minutes of lively discussion.
The Caucus meets once a month to discuss the residents' varied Community Oriented Primary Care projects, which are a required component of the residency curriculum. We also participate in health fairs, youth-at-risk programs, and much more.
Every year the
Family Medicine Minority Caucus plans two of the residency's Family Medicine Grand Round Nights: "Black History Month Night Celebration" in February and "Latino Culture Night Celebration" in September.
All Caucus members participate in developing these events, which include biopsychosocial and public health presentations and cultural celebrations (food and dancing included).
Additionally, the minority caucus members prepare or sponsor many other didactic and cultural events throughout the year (e.g., Gay and Lesbian Health lectures, Race in Medicine seminars, etc.)
Members often host dinners, movies nights, and other social events that showcase their diverse cultural backgrounds. Significant others and partners are always welcome.
MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS AND FACULTY
Our group defines "minority" as an underrepresented group in medicine and/or society (race/ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, etc.).
Participation in the Caucus, however, is not limited to members of these groups. The objective is to learn through diversification, so everyone is welcome to participate.
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