The engagement of trainees from Historically Black Medical Colleges (HBMC’s) is building upon the pilot launched by Presence (a Center at Stanford Medicine) and the Department of Medicine, under the leadership of Dr. Abraham Verghese and Sonoo Thadaney Israni in 2017. Today, the program is under The Racial Equity to Advance a Community of Health (REACH) Initiative. The REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program expectations:

• 8-week, full-time, on-campus research program
• Rising second-year medical students from Charles Drew University College of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine are matched with Stanford Medicine faculty mentors for a bi-directional research experience
• Meharry Medical College students receive academic credit from their institution
• Program events allow REACH-HBMC mentees to network with residency program directors and residents as well as partake in CV/resume workshops
  
• Mentees receive a stipend and Bay Area living supplement
  

History of the Program

In the summer of 2021, Presence was joined by the Departments of Radiology and Pathology, and virtually hosted 23 summer trainees in 23 labs. Each trainee received a stipend, was paired with a faculty lab, and earned academic credit at Meharry based on a published paper, report, poster, et al. See the 2017 blog post, 2018 reflections, and 2021 stories and reflections.  

In 2022, REACH and funding from Stanford Medicine departments and institutes expanded the program, and we welcomed 48 candidates from Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine. They were mentored by labs and mentors across the School of Medicine. See 2022 reflection.

In 2023, the REACH-HBMC Program welcomed 57 mentees from Meharry, Morehouse, and Howard and their mentors spanned 17 Stanford Medicine departments and institutes.

A pilot program is in progress with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science – the fourth of our nation’s four HBMC’s!

We are grateful for the funding, mentorship, and support of Stanford Medicine Department and Institute Chairs!