June 28, 2000

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Minority Medical Education Program (MMEP) at the School of Medicine at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) has received a $1.5 million renewal grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to continue the program for the next five years.

MMEP is a national summer enrichment program that identifies promising minority students who are interested in medical careers and gives them educational and practical experiences to improve their competitiveness in applying to medical school. MMEP is primarily intended for students from minority groups that continue to be underrepresented in American medicine including Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans (American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians).

“Our job is twofold,” says Dr. Marlon Priest, MMEP program director and professor of emergency medicine. “We work to make the students competitive candidates for medical school, and prepare them academically to succeed and understand what's expected of them once they get in. In addition, we're working to change the culture of medical school--to make the institution more comfortable with people from different backgrounds.”

The program is beginning its fourth year on UAB’s campus. The school will host 125 MMEP participants, including college students and recent college graduates from across the U.S.

First-year and sophomore students take academic courses such as anatomy and physiology. Juniors and seniors review subject areas and test-taking skills to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). All students receive instruction in writing, computing, library, and interview skills. In addition, students work with physician mentors in clinics.

“One way in which our program is different from other MMEP programs is that we encourage our students to consider all the options that are available to them at a big academic medical center,” continued Dr. Priest. “The same skill set is necessary for a career in the other sciences.”

MMEP is sponsored jointly by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Association of Medical Colleges. The School of Medicine provides matching funding.