PHILANTHROPY CORNER
PHILANTHROPY CORNER
Q : Could you elaborate on the specific goals and outcomes Abbott aims to achieve through these scholarships ? JJM :: The Abbott Scholars program has a clear goal of producing more racially and ethnically diverse nurses and clinical trialists who , if given the opportunity , will dramatically impact trials in the future . In addition to providing tuition assistance , the funds will help provide future nurses and physicians with additional skills and support , including opportunities to learn about clinical research .
Q : Considering CDU ' s dedication to equity and social justice , how do you envision these scholarships contributing to broader goals in Message promoting from these the values Alumni within the medical field ? Council JJM : Chair There are very real barriers to access
and representation for patients from racially
Honoring and ethnically our Alumni diverse backgrounds , and one barrier we need to continue focusing on now is having more diverse clinical researchers . The Abbott Scholars program is just one part of a broader initiative to improve diversity in clinical trials by supporting students of color who are studying to become nurses and doctors – the very people who will lead future clinical trials .
Introducing the New Alumni Relations Manager
Incoming Nursing Student with Family at Whitecoat Ceremony Photo Courtesy : Kevin Camargo
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Q : How does Abbott foresee the impact of these scholarships on the representation of underrepresented groups within the medical profession ? JJM : Through our Abbott Scholars program , we aim to empower underrepresented and underserved medical and nursing students by lowering barriers and alleviating some of the financial burden of medical education . By helping students to focus their time and efforts on fields like clinical research , Abbott hopes to increase diversity and equity in clinical trials and medicine , enabling students to serve their communities through their practices .
Q : Can you share insights into the duration and structure of the scholarship programs that will be supported by this donation ? JJM : The Abbott Scholars program has funded 300 scholarships to HBCUs and minority nursing associations across the country , amounting to a total of $ 5 million from 2021 to 2026 . In partnership with HBCUs like Howard University and Meharry College , along with the National Black Nurses Association and National Association of Hispanic Nurses , the initiative focuses on investing in future healthcare leaders to foster a more inclusive and diverse medical field .
Q : Any final thoughts or words of wisdom for CDU alumni and students pursuing careers in the medical field ? JJM : Diversity in clinical trials and research is crucial to the functionality of the medical field , yet it ’ s something the industry continues to struggle with . Past research has shown that patients prefer doctors that share their race or ethnicity , and that people often face challenges finding clinicians who share or understand their culture . These challenges can amplify existing trust issues presented within many racial or ethnic communities , and they can also add to therapy and treatment barriers often seen through the clinical trial process . Without increasing the number of diverse trialists , clinicians and patient populations , we won ’ t truly solve the problem of representation in care . Abbott Scholars aims to address that problem by providing the next generation of clinicians and trialists with the resources they need to create more inclusive , supportive care .
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