EVMS ranked most diverse medical school in Virginia by U.S. News
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EVMS is the most diverse medical school in Virginia, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 rankings.
The publication’s Most Diverse Medical Schools report identifies colleges nationwide where students are most likely to encounter peers from racial or ethnic groups different from their own. Approximately 22 percent of EVMS medical students identify as part of a racial or ethnic minority.
“We are so pleased with this recognition, as it aligns with our vision to become the most community-oriented school of medicine and health professions in the United States,” says Alfred Abuhamad, MD, President, Provost and Dean of the School of Medicine. “We want our student body to reflect the communities we serve, in the commonwealth and beyond, and we believe our students’ success is largely rooted in learning from life experiences and backgrounds different from their own.”
EVMS has consistently ranked among the highest in the state since the medical school-specific diversity rankings debuted three years ago. EVMS ranks #46 for diversity in the nation among the 130 medical and osteopathic schools included in the report.
Each medical school's ranking is based on the percentage of total enrollment, as reported to U.S. News, that are underrepresented minority students and how that percentage compares with state and national race-ethnic-group proportions. U.S. News worked on this ranking with the Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
The listing defines underrepresented minority students as those who are Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.
“As an institution of higher learning responsible for the training of the next generation of healthcare professionals, EVMS chooses to engage with and respond thoughtfully and intentionally to the social and demographic changes transforming society and community,” says Mekbib Gemeda, EdD, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at EVMS.
Dr. Gemeda says the institution intentionally integrates its efforts through programming and quality improvement initiatives that promote “inclusive excellence” in the areas of education, faculty development, health disparities research, patient care, community engagement and training and climate improvements.
Efforts include, among many others, endowed scholarships that provide financial support to students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and health professions; initiatives such as The L.D. Britt Premedical Scholars program, a longitudinal mentoring program for Norfolk State and Hampton University students; and the recently launched ENRICHe program, a partnership with Norfolk State focused on addressing health disparities, enhancing research opportunities and expanding pathways for underrepresented students into medicine and health professions.
Community engagement programs include the Community Inclusion and Health Equity (CIHE) initiative, which integrates community input into clinical, educational and research activities, and the Regional Cancer Disparities Collaborative (RCDC), which brings together all the health systems in the region as well as community partners to address the tremendous prostate, colon and breast cancer disparities regionally.
U.S. News also recognizes EVMS among medical schools with the highest number of graduates practicing direct patient care in medically underserved areas.
Read the EVMS Diversity Statement.