A Pipeline to Greater Diversity in Ophthalmology

To better serve our communities, we should better reflect our communities.

Ariane Kaplan MD with a medical student

Studies show that patients are more likely to trust healthcare physicians with whom they share similar ethnic backgrounds and cultural experiences. 

Minority underrepresentation is especially pronounced in ophthalmology. Just six percent of practicing ophthalmologists and eight percent of ophthalmology residents identify as African American/black, Native American, or Hispanic, compared to roughly 30 percent of the U.S. population.

A novel effort at the Kellogg Eye Center is working to close the gap. The Mentorship-led Pipeline Program, part of Kellogg’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, combines peer relationships, clinical experience, skill building and social events to encourage underrepresented medical students to explore careers in ophthalmology. The program is unique because it pairs incoming medical students with first-year ophthalmology residents. 

“The idea is to expose medical students to ophthalmology early in their studies,” explains clinical assistant professor Ariane Kaplan, MD, who, as part of a DEI committee that includes department faculty, medical students and staff, oversees the program. “If they decide to pursue ophthalmology, their mentors can continue supporting them all the way through the very competitive and stressful process of applying for residency.”

If they decide to pursue ophthalmology, their mentors can continue supporting them all the way through the very competitive and stressful process of applying for residency.

Ariane Kaplan, M.D.

Why pair newcomers with newcomers? Dr. Kaplan cites two reasons. “First, both are negotiating new, albeit different environments with steep, intimidating learning curves, so it fosters a strong sense of being in it together. And residents can be more approachable and relatable than faculty, having just ‘survived’ medical school themselves.”

The program launched during the 2017-2018 academic year, pairing nine mentees with seven first year ophthalmology residents. “The feedback we’ve received is very positive, and some mentees have expressed an interest in pursuing ophthalmology,” says Dr. Kaplan. The existing pairings will continue, and a class of seven new applicants will be matched with mentors.

An Innovation Grant through the U-M Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provided funding for the 2017-2018 academic year. Current academic year funding from a Rackham Faculty Allies and Student Ally Diversity Grant and a Michigan Medicine DEI Mini-grant will allow the program to expand in the year ahead.