Saint Peter’s University has signed an agreement with Ross University School of Medicine with the goal of increasing diversity in the U.S. physician workforce.
Over the past decade, the Jesuit institution in New Jersey has seen the enrollment of Hispanic students go from approximately 25 percent of the undergraduate student population to nearly 50 percent. Designated a Hispanic serving institution (HSI) for more than two decades, the university has introduced support services through its Center for English Language Acquisition that have helped nearly close the achievement gap between Hispanic and White students.
Dr. Frederick Bonato, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said associate vice president for academic affairs Dr. Mildred Mihlon met with representatives of Ross University School of Medicine at a meeting of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). After several months of discussions, an agreement was signed earlier this month.
Saint Peter’s has put a great emphasis on the sciences, and there are nearly 400 biology majors, a significant number given the university has fewer than 3,000 undergraduate students. Many of the students pursuing science majors have expressed an interest in attending medical school, so forging pathways to facilitate the process seemed a natural fit.
“Medical school is very competitive, and some students who are first-generation college students find standardized testing to be somewhat difficult,” said Bonato.
“Speaking to some of our professors, they say we have a lot of students who just miss the admissions mark in terms of the MCATs,” he said, referring to the Medical College Admissions Test.
“There is interest and desire and also, we think, the ability,” Bonato added. “We have Saint Peter’s graduates who have gone to Ross in the past, and they’re good doctors. That’s an indicator of the success we can have.”
