MedPEP
differs in several ways from other programs designed to increase
achievement among California’s minority students. First,
MedPEP gives community college students interested in a health
care profession services tailored to that goal. About 500,000
Latino students begin community college every year, yet very few
(2.1%) eventually transfer to a four-year university, and fewer
still persist to enter medical school. MedPEP’s goal is
to increase the number of transfers by helping students stay on
track to achieve their goals.
Another unique aspect of MedPEP is its foundation in contemporary
social sciences theories. MedPEP staff have crafted programs by
looking at exciting new directions in education, psychology and
community development. This approach is holistic, intellectually
empowering, culturally relevant, and novel in its focus on the
community as a source of support. For this reason, MedPEP involves
not just students, but their families, their community, and California’s
educational institutions in a process of socialization. While
low-income students and families must be socialized to achieve
academic success, the schools mandated to educate them can learn
to better appreciate Latino civil society in order to focus on
the strengths of that community.
Finally, MedPEP sees itself as an on-going participatory research
project. Thus it provides guidance and support rather than an
iron-clad, one-size-fits-all program, engages in continual research
and re-evaluation that informs the next round of programs, and
encourages satellite programs to develop independently in response
to local conditions and needs.
Since beginning operations, MedPEP can point to a number of successes.
Classes and activities are underway, or in initial implementation,
at UCLA, at five community colleges and at one private college.
Our "Latino Student Learner” profile, used to craft
our student and family activities, has been shared with faculty
and administrators at participating community colleges. In February
2004, MedPEP became a functional partner with the UCLA/Drew Center
of Excellence in Underrepresented Minority Health (UCLA COE),
which supports the development of URM medical students and faculty.
MedPEP participants are the primary target for the UCLA Summer
Medical and Dental Education Program, a six-week in-residence
program to strengthen participants' abilities in the skills needed
for a health professional career. SMDEP is funded by a grant from
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
