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. 2024 Dec 24;8(24):6237-6247.
doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013519.

American Society of Hematology: building a comprehensive minority recruitment and retention professional program

Margo R Rollins  1   2 , Rahma M Warsame  3 , Melody Smith  4 , Arturo Molina  5 , Rayne H Rouce  6 , Belinda R Avalos  7 , Cage S Johnson  8 , Jose A Lopez  9   10 , Alexis A Thompson  11 , Lisa Fanning  12 , Patricia Frustace  12 , Keelin Roche  12 , Nathalie van Havre  12 , Devon Mack  13 , Christopher R Flowers  14 , Deirdra R Terrell  13
Affiliations

American Society of Hematology: building a comprehensive minority recruitment and retention professional program

Margo R Rollins et al. Blood Adv. .

Abstract

In 2003, the Institute of Medicine noted the need to improve workforce diversity. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) responded by developing the Minority Recruitment Initiative (MRI) to recruit diverse physicians/scientists into hematology. We evaluated the outcomes of the program. From 2004 to 2022, there were 405 awardees. Compared with national estimates, MRI awardees were less likely to discontinue their degree programs. MRI graduate student awardees had 0% attrition (97.5% confidence interval [CI], 10.6), whereas the national minority graduate student attrition was 36%. Medical student awardees had 2.2% (95% CI, 0.61-5.6) attrition, compared with the minority medical school attrition of 5.6%. Awardees were more likely than expected to pursue hematology-oncology (5.7% minority national estimate) because 14.4% (95% CI, 8.1-23.0) of medical student awardees and 88.5% (95% CI, 70.0-97.6) of early career awardees remain in the field. ASH has developed a successful program, but continued efforts are needed to advance equity in hematology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: R.H.R. reports consulting fees from Pfizer; honoraria from Novartis; and has received research funding from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. R.H.R., M.R.R., and M.S. are past MRI recipients. M.R.R., M.S., R.M.W., A.M., R.H.R., B.R.A., C.S.J., J.A.L., A.A.T., C.R.F., and D.R.T. are all past or current members of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. L.F., P.F., K.R., and N.v.H. were employed by the ASH at the time of manuscript preparation. D.M. declares no competing financial interests.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of ASH MRI.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
MMSAP, 2004-2022 (N = 240). MMSAP, Minority Medical Student Award Program.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
MRHAP, 2017-2022 (N = 37). MRHAP, Minority Resident Hematology Award Program.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
MHFA, 2020-2022 (N = 17). MHFA, Minority Hematology Fellow Award.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
ASH-AMFDP, 2006-2022 (N = 26). ASH-AMFDP, American Society of Hematology Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program Award.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
MGSAAA, 2011-2022 (N = 66). MGSAAA, Minority Graduate Student Abstract Achievement Award.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
MHGA, 2020-2022 (N = 19). MHGA, Minority Hematology Graduate Award.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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