You can't be what you can't see.
Tiffany Hardaway MD, MS, ElevateMeD Board Member
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 75% of medical students graduating in 2018 had an average student loan debt of $196,520. This figure increases every year making loan repayment difficult and prohibitive for some well qualified candidates.
As the costs of higher education continue to grow, the price tag for a medical education has deterred otherwise well-qualified candidates from pursuing careers in medicine. The ability to achieve satisfactory loan repayment drives decisions regarding specialty leaving some specialties with severe underrepresentation.
My experience is no different from these statistics.
I chose to pursue a career in anesthesiology because I enjoy moment-to-moment decision making as well as the practical application of physiology and pharmacology. 3% of anesthesiologists are reported to identify as Black/African-American. Of those 3%, the majority are women.
Marian Wright Edelman said “You can’t be what you can’t see.” I am excited to work alongside the other Board members of ElevateMeD to raise awareness of the importance of physician workforce diversity and create infrastructure for improvement. Our Scholars Program will give bright students the opportunity to see themselves in a range of specialties and provide them the opportunity for mentorship and leadership training to support their goals.
Please join me in supporting ElevateMeD.
-Tiffany Hardaway MD, MS
