Improving Diversity in Military Medicine Through Collaborative Leadership

Abstract

This chapter presents an example of a diversity educational change initiative at a medical school. A novel premedical program for enlisted members of the U.S. military services was implemented based on mission requirements, analysis of existing data, and evidence-based strategies. The U.S. physician population suffers from a lack of diversity. This has been a long-standing problem which has a significant impact on the health of the nation. Educational leaders have been given a mandate to address this challenge, and efforts have been made over the past decades – with varying levels of success. This chapter discusses the realities of the diversity challenges facing the health professions workforce and highlights elements of programs which have produced successful diversity outcomes. The military's premedical program is described in detail, including the theoretical perspectives for student persistence and how leaders collaborated to create the conditions for student success.