The SHPEP Connect Newsletter

Dr. Pamies' career as a physician was marked by a series of significant roles, each contributing to his overarching mission of advancing health equity. As an editorial board member of the Journal of the National Medical Association (JNMA), a faculty member in the University of South Florida Department of Family Medicine, and the vice chancellor of academic affairs and dean for graduate studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), he left an indelible mark on the field of healthcare. 

Minor and Bonnin (2022) highlight the pivotal role mentors and advisors play in enhancing the performance of underrepresented medical students. Fortunately, organizations are dedicated to supporting and guiding prehealth and current health professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds. To shed light on these valuable resources, I interviewed students from diverse backgrounds to explore their experiences within these professional organizations.

Embarking on a career in the health professions is a transformative experience, often filled with challenges and unexpected turns. This journey can be especially daunting for disadvantaged students, and it's not uncommon to find oneself considering a different path due to burnout, challenges with school acceptance, or simply a desire for change.

Lisa M. Meeks, Ph.D., M.A., is a leader known for her passion for advancing disability access and inclusion in medicine. Her expertise and enthusiasm translate into her work as an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medicine.

A strong leader and unwavering voice for the disability community in biomedical research and beyond,  Bonnielin Swenor, Ph.D., M.P.H., is an expert researcher in disability equity, disability data, and accessibility. Dr. Swenor serves as the Director of the Johns Hopkins University Disability Health Research Center and has joint appointments at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology.

I launched The Dakota Initiative as a way to remember my brother during a difficult time in my life. This grassroots mental health initiative started with the intention of bettering the lives of people in South Mississippi, where I am currently pursuing my medical degree.

Currently, scholars, activists, and physicians are fighting to increase the representation and inclusion of PWD in medical education, and their efforts span the gamut of reform practices. However, to overcome systemic barriers, we all must work together to try to perform systemic action. While, obviously, joining the fight through explicit advocacy, research, and policy reform is admirable and necessary, not everyone has the ability or desire to participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion reform on an official basis.

You want to feel confident with the resources you’re using to prepare for standardized exams. You can read reviews online, ask fellow students for their recommendations, and start with using the free resources available to you. Hear from different SHPEP alums and their experiences with testing.

The Rubens J. Pamies, M.D., Opportunity Fund is pleased to announce it has selected its winners for the 2023 year. Established in memory of the late Dr. Pamies, the scholarship team has selected four candidates who reflect Dr. Pamies’ vision and commitment to eradicating health disparities.

During the pandemic, the voices of healthcare professionals were amplified to describe their arduous journeys. From both rural and urban providers, we saw the challenges they faced as if medicine was a coin and they were the two faces. There are differences between the challenges and disparities these communities face and the professionals serving them, but there are similarities. 

Language barriers exist between patients and healthcare professionals in the United States. An investigation conducted by Al Shamsi et al. published in the National Library of Medicine found that "language barriers in healthcare lead to miscommunication between the medical professional and patient, reducing both parties' satisfaction and decreasing the quality of healthcare delivery and patient safety.

The SHPEP Alumni Engagement and Communication Committee interviewed graduate students on their experiences navigating a new program. Starting graduate school provides a challenge, and we asked them about resources, mentorship, and advice. Here is what they had to say!