Medical EducationCOMMENTARY

Diversity in osteopathic medical school admissions and the COMPASS program: an update

Nadege Dady, EdD; Steven Toplan, MS; Jeffrey Gardere, PhD; Robin Moore, DO; Lorreen Agandi, MS; Ulcha Fergie Ulysse, MS; Aida Aminpour, BA; McKensie Gelvin, BS; Jemima Akinsanya, DO; and Kenneth Steier, DO, MBA, MPH, MHA, MGH
Notes and Affiliations
Notes and Affiliations

Received: May 9, 2023

Accepted: December 7, 2023

Published: January 24, 2024

  • Nadege Dady, EdD, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

  • Steven Toplan, MS, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

  • Jeffrey Gardere, PhD, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

  • Robin Moore, DO, 

    Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA

  • Lorreen Agandi, MS, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

  • Ulcha Fergie Ulysse, MS, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

  • Aida Aminpour, BA, 

    Touro University School of Health Sciences, New York, NY, USA

  • McKensie Gelvin, BS, 

    Touro University School of Health Sciences, New York, NY, USA

  • Jemima Akinsanya, DO, 

    Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

  • Kenneth Steier, DO, MBA, MPH, MHA, MGH, 

    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York, New York, NY, USA

J Osteopath Med; 124(5): 205-212
Abstract

In the United States, the 40 colleges of osteopathic medicine and 157 schools of allopathic medicine face challenges in recruiting candidates who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM), and gaps in racial disparity appear to be widening. In this commentary, the authors provide an analysis of the data collected from 8 years of conducting a URiM recruitment and welcoming social events. The event is sponsored by a student special interest group called Creating Osteopathic Minority Physicians Who Achieve Scholastic Success (COMPASS) at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York (TouroCOM-NY). The results of the 8-year data analysis supports the conclusion that the COMPASS program has benefited the school environment through increased diversity.

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