PHILANTHROPY CORNER
PHILANTHROPY CORNER
Spotlight on Abbott Laboratories Scholarships
Recently , CDU Alumni Relations had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer Jones-McMeans , Division Vice President of Global Clinical Affairs at Abbott Laboratories , about the importance of its philanthropic gift toward scholarships at CDU .
The generous contribution supports underrepresented medical and nursing students , aligning with CDU ’ s mission to promote equity and social justice in healthcare .
Through initiatives like the Abbott Scholars program , she emphasizes the vital role that diversity plays in clinical research and the broader medical field , empowering future healthcare leaders to serve their communities and drive lasting change .
Q : What inspired you to make a substantial donation towards scholarships for underrepresented medical students in urban communities ?
Jennifer Jones-McMeans ( JJM ): At Abbott , we ’ re passionate about supporting and empowering students with an interest in clinical research to be the future drivers of diversity , equity and inclusion across healthcare . While diversity in medical schools has seen a recent uptick , as recently as 2021 , only 11 % of medical students identified as Black , 13 % as Hispanic and 1 % as Native American .
To ensure that all people have access to quality care , it ’ s crucial that our medical industry is representative of all backgrounds , races and ethnicities . Our Abbott Scholars program specifically aims to support nursing and medical students who are underrepresented by making education more accessible and future professions in medicine more possible .
In 2021 , only 1 % of medical school matriculants identified as American Indian or Alaska Native , 11 % as Black , 13 % as Hispanic , and 0.4 % as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander these percentages remain low relative to their proportions in the US population .
Jennifer Jones-McMeans Division Vice President of Global Clinical Affairs
Mervyn M . Dymally College of Nursing Nursing students taking their oath of service during the White Coat Ceremony Photo Courtesy : Kevin Camargo
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