South Carolina State University News March 19, 2012 Tour for Diversity in Medicine Educates, Inspires and Cultivates SC State Students Kameron Matthews, MD JD and a family physician in Chicago, and Alden Landry, MD and an emergency room physician in Boston, Mass., made an impulsive decision that has already impacted many young lives. The two business partners had an interest in mentoring undergraduate students, relaying key information to them which would help these students eventually become successful medical practitioners, holding key positions in a field where African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans combined represent only six percent of practicing physicians and five percent of dentists. The interest spurred a conversation which has now become the Tour for Diversity in Medicine. The inaugural bus tour was launched in February to bring 11 doctors, dentists and medical school students from minority populations to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the South. The tour made a recent stop at SC State University. "We decided that we wanted to come to your campus so that we could mentor students," said Matthews. "We (Matthews and Landry) were literally on the phone one night and said, 'we should do a college tour,' and that's how the Tour for Diversity in Medicine was created." During the full-day event, doctors held workshops on applying to medical and dental school, providing information on how personal statements should be crafted. Breakout sessions were also held to focus on more interactive skills, test taking and interviewing techniques. "Those sessions teach students how to take a test, not the information on the test, but how to take a test," emphasized Matthews. "It is a skill. We also showed students how to interview. You don't just have a conversation with someone. You actually present yourself in an appropriate manner." A network launching workshop was also held, allowing students to practice their networking skills, as well as an "Outside the Numbers" session, entailing the information that should be listed on your application, such as academics, extracurricular activities and community involvement. The US Army, MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) College of Dentistry and MUSC Medical School also participated and shared information with SC State students. What started out as an idea for Matthews and Landry, however, was an inspiration for SC State students who participated in this inaugural tour. Cortney Burgess was so moved that she sent a personal thank you to the event organizers, Joseph Thomas, director of the SC State University Career Center, and Dr. Judith Salley Guydon, chair for the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences. "I would personally like to say thanks for hosting the Tour for Diversity in Medicine. I was in a state of disarray, but after this tour I am inspired and have come to the realization that I have what it takes to defy all odds and succeed. I am glad to have been a part of the movement to receive all the knowledge and information shared. Continue to bring more opportunities such as this to 'educate, inspire and cultivate' the students to pursue their dreams," says Burgess, a senior, professional biology major. "Educate, inspire and cultivate" is the motto for the Tour for Diversity in Medicine, and Matthews hopes that the first of a series of tours will educate, inspire and cultivate many students. Christian Blair, a freshman biology major at SC State University and an aspiring oral surgeon, deemed the tour a success. "It has given me the inspiration to accomplish my goal," said Blair." A lot of people feel down about not being able to get there because you're a minority, but I think that seeing other minorities in these high positions makes you feel good about yourself because you know your goal is really attainable." For more information on the Tour for Diversity in Medicine, visit the website at www.tour4diversity.org. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.