Today, one in four Americans is a member of a racial or ethnic minority. A diverse population needs a diverse healthcare workforce. Patients and providers who share a common culture often communicate more easily. And better communication results in better health outcomes.
But the current healthcare workforce does not reflect the country's growing diversity. For example, only 2.3 percent of physicians are African American. Latinos account for 3.2 percent, and physicians of Asian heritage for 8.3 percent.
Citizenship And Vocation
Augsburg Fairview Academy, a Minneapolis charter school, (www.afa.tc) was created in 2004 to help remedy this situation. The school is sponsored by Augsburg College (www.augsburg.edu) and receives support from Fairview Health Services (www.fairview.org). African American students make up about 50 percent of the student body. Another 30 percent are Somali. Most of the remaining students are Native American, Latino and Hmong.
"We are a college-prep high school that invites young adults from diverse communities to prepare themselves for citizenship and a vocation in healthcare or one of the other caring professions," says Bill Spira, the executive director and lead teacher.
Solid Academics
Students take four years of English, social studies, math and science, with an emphasis on the biological sciences. This solid academic background is excellent preparation for many careers, especially those that are health-related.
"We actively recruit students who need a nurturing environment," Spira says. "We help them develop good habits of mind and body that will help them succeed both personally and professionally."
