The commitment By Hirschel D. McGinnis, MD
What does the SIR URM Section mean to you?
I
nterventional radiology is a highly sought medical specialty, yet there are disparities in the presence of under-represented minorities in the IR workforce. There are several known barriers that contribute to the lack of URMs in IR, from a low-level of awareness amongst trainees to a sparsity of IR training programs at medical schools with high URM enrollment.
SIR’s URM in IR Section was created in 2019 in part to increase awareness and exposure to IR. Led by Keith M. Horton, MD, FSIR, and Derek L. West, MD, MS, the URM in IR section seeks to engage providers across the career spectrum to improve patient care and access to careers in IR. Dismantling these barriers not only impacts URM physicians, but sets off chain reactions that impact patient health care disparities as well.
Here are the voices of six students pursuing careers in IR who have found support and access via the URM in IR section as they embark on their IR journeys.
The URM IR section is a group I am glad I’ve found. I became interested in IR even before medical school, but like many competitive specialties I noticed a lack of people of color. The URM IR section has allowed me to interact with other people of color that share my passion for IR. The URM section also
introduced me to the Grants for Education of Medical Students (GEMS) Program which opened the gates for me to network with even more diverse peers in IR. It’s programs like this that demonstrate SIR’s and interventional radiology as a whole’s commitment to welcoming me and addressing the concerns of our diverse population.”
— FRANKLIN IHEANACHO, MS3 WARREN ALPERT MEDICAL SCHOOL AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
Being able to have connections with students, mentors, faculty, and physicians who are part of the URM is great and has definitely provided me a sense of comfort. To know that there is a growing number of minorities in this field lets me know that I belong, and I have a place. It brings joy and confidence in
knowing that my future colleagues can understand our place in the world and actively work together to make a difference.”
— VICTORIA JACKSON, OMS-II, DO CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Having a URM section means that I have a group of people who I feel comfortable going to when I have questions or need advice. To me, this group has been the most welcoming group of physicians in IR. I feel that they are willing to do anything in their power to help me succeed, and I look
forward to collaborating with them as I continue to explore a career in Interventional Radiology.”
— SOPHIA MOURAD, MD CANDIDATE, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
32 IRQ | FALL 2022
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