References


1. Marrast LM, Zallman L, Woolhandler S, Bor DH, McCormick D. Minority physicians’ role in the care of underserved patients: Diversifying the physician workforce may be key in addressing health disparities. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Feb; 174(2):289–91


2. Higgins MCSS, Beeram IR. The imperative for diversity and inclusion in interventional radiology. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2021 Sep;217(3):761–64. doi:10.2214/AJR.20.23470. Epub 2021 Jul 14.


3. Jehn KA, Northcraft GB, Neale MA. Why differences make a difference: A field study of diversity, conflict, and performance in workgroups. Adm Sci Q 1999; 44(4):741–63


4. Cyphers ED, Lightfoote JB, Kagetsu NJ. Inclusive resident selection in radiology: Practices for interviewers. J Am Coll Radiol. 2023 Feb;20(2):265–67. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2022.10.003. Epub 2022 Nov 8.


By cross-referencing the applicant data with the list of schools, it was found that no active HBCUs or DO schools can be classified in high-IR exposure Category I (table 2). Of the total 44 schools studied, 18 (41%) were classified as Category II and the remaining 26 schools (59%) were classified as Category III (table 2).


The path forward In 2016, the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology published a letter to the editor characterizing the level of IR exposure at schools with high URMs. That letter underscored the disparities in access to IR education and opportunities among URM medical students.7


Since then, efforts by


the American College of Radiology Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) and the SIR Foundation Grants for Education of Medical Students (GEMS) programs have helped address these disparities.


The applicant pool of the GEMS program has seen a 150% increase in the number of African-American applicants and the number of awardees has increased from three to 10 over the last 3 years.8 However, their consistent efforts have been affected by existing systemic issues that continue to lead to low URM and DO representation.


In a study by Daye et al. at four institutions with a high percentage of URM students, 59.2% of students indicated they were less likely


to understand the work of IR and indicated no awareness of opportunities for IR exposure.9


Among


the osteopathic medical schools, less than one-third of the schools provide dedicated IR rotations for students.5


In


addition, as seen from the study results, 59% of the DO schools and HBCUs have no exposure to IR in the form of student interest groups, SIR faculty and approved IR training programs. As a result, students are at disadvantage when it comes to choosing IR as a third-year elective.


Moreover, even with institutions offering an IR elective, the associated cost imposes financial constraints and further limits access.5


5. Cyphers ED, Groskreutz D, Grilli C, Ahuja RS. Exposure to IR rotations in osteopathic medical schools: Trends in residency applications and matching. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2023 Aug;34(8):1424–27. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2022.12.485. Epub 2023 May 7. PMID: 37160251


6. Manik R, Sadigh G. Diversity and inclusion in radiology: A necessity for improving the field. Br J Radiol. 2021 Oct 1;94(1126):20210407. doi:10.1259/bjr.20210407. Epub 2022 Jul 8.


7. Kumar V, Diab N, Jefferson JM, Lehrman ED, LaBerge JM, Wilson MW. Characterizing IR exposure at US medical schools with the highest percentage of enrolled underrepresented minority medical students. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2017;28(12):1751–53. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2017.07.033


8. Kumar V, Folleco A, Palacios V, Doshi P. Finding gems. IR Quarterly. 2023. irq.sirweb.org/ advocacy/finding-gems.


9. Daye D, Cedillo M, Castro L, Sullivan S, Smith M, Patel A, Kumar V. Abstract No. 344: Bridging the gap: Why aren’t underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in interventional radiology? J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2019 March;30(3)S152. 10.1016/j.jvir.2018.12.415.


One way to


increase representation is to have more IR physicians from URM backgrounds involved in the medical school faculty. This would provide opportunities for exposure and mentorship in early preclinical years. Stoehr et al. found that after an IR course with an endovascular simulator, fourth-year medical students reported a two-fold increase in IR interest and were 3.2 times more likely to choose IR as a specialty.10


This demonstrates that


well-orchestrated outreach efforts at grassroots medical education levels are a potential way to increase awareness about IR among URM.


Through grassroots awareness campaigns, increased diversity in hiring and programs such as PIERS or GEMS, there is a pathway to increase URM and DO representation and exposure to IR.


irq.sirweb.org | 19


10. Stoehr F, Schotten S, Pitton MB, Dueber C, Schmidt F, Hansen NL, Baeßler B, Kloeckner R, Dos Santos DP. Endovascular simulation training: a tool to increase enthusiasm for interventional radiology among medical students. Eur Radiol. 2020 Aug;30(8):4656–63. doi: 10.1007/s00330- 019-06646-2. Epub 2020 Mar 27. PMID: 32221683.


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