(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of stories about a move to ban affirmative action in Nebraska and the potential impact such a policy change would have at UNMC.)
At the time, medical school was still six years away.
But Tina Flores, M.D., already was spending her summers in UNMC laboratories. That was just one of the benefits of a summer research enrichment program, a pipeline program designed to recruit, encourage and support minority students who have an interest in health care professions.
“I always had an interest in math and science. Through this program, I was able to explore various research projects, learn the UNMC campus and meet other students with similar science interests,” Dr. Flores said.
The summer research program experience solidified her desire to become a doctor. The Multicultural Vantage Program (MVP) helped her become one. During her senior year of high school, Dr. Flores was accepted into the MVP program. It provided funding for her education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition, if she maintained a high grade point average and met all other admission requirements, she was guaranteed a tuition-free spot at UNMC.
Pipeline programs are crucial to the university’s goal of training culturally competent health care providers, Dr. Flores said.
She said she is concerned about a petition circulating in Nebraska that would ban affirmative action polices and programs, which could have a devastating impact on UNMC’s pipeline and recruitment efforts.
“I think it will be detrimental because there are so few minorities in medicine,” Dr. Flores said. “Even with pipeline programs, minority physicians are about four percent of the UNMC faculty.”
UNMC uses a variety of pipeline and recruitment programs to encourage women to take on leadership roles and to recruit underrepresented students into careers in science.
“It is still difficult for women to be in academia,” Dr. Flores said. “Men tend to mentor other men — even informally. As a result, some women feel they must actively seek mentorship.”
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“Women have other obstacles because we are still the primary care-givers in our homes,” she said. “It can be challenging to negotiate maternity leave, child care concerns and feel assured that your commitment to your career isn’t questioned.”
As a member of UNMC’s Affirmative Action Speaker’s Bureau, Dr. Flores said it’s important to be pro-active about protecting affirmative action policies not just for future women and minority physicians but also for their patients.
“There is an increasing need to serve the underserved populations,” she said. “Because of shared culture, language and perspectives, minority physicians tend to serve in those roles because that is where their passions lie.”
If you would like a member of UNMC’s Affirmative Action Speaker’s Bureau to give a presentation to a campus group or civic organization, please contact Jo Giles at 559-4696 or jgiles@unmc.edu.