Recruitment and Retention Programs

A diverse medical and scientific workforce is essential to meet the needs of the rapidly changing demographics of Indiana communities in today’s environment. Indiana University School of Medicine offers a wide range of recruitment and retention programs to help build a pipeline of talented and diverse health care professionals and scientists, starting in K-12 education through graduate medical education and into the clinic and lab.

Program key:
1: Programs for medical students
2: Programs for graduate students
3: Programs for residents and fellows
4: Programs for faculty
5: Programs for staff
6: Programs for K-12 and undergraduate students

Academic Medicine Career Development Conference ^1,2,3

The Academic Medicine Career Development Conference is a biennial conference designed to introduce students to careers in academic medicine. The goal of this conference is for diverse medical trainees (including students, residents and fellows) to increase their awareness, interest and preparedness for an academic medicine career. The Academic Medicine Career Development Conference is free and open to all medical students, residents and fellows but has been specifically tailored for groups underrepresented in medicine (i.e., LGBTQ, racial and ethnic minorities and women).

Trainee Travel Grant ^1,2,3

Presenting research is important for the academic and professional development of medical/graduate students, residents and fellows. The Center for Inclusive Excellence grants travel awards to trainees interested in showcasing their scholarly research and/or developing professional skills and networks. Allocation of these resources is done with the intention of supporting endeavors that provide educational value to our trainees and to the greater IU School of Medicine community. 

Tools & Resources on Recruiting ^1,2,3,4,5

These tools and resources are applicable to recruitment of faculty, staff and learners of all types. 

Master of Science in Medical Science ⁶

The Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program at Indiana University School of Medicine is a two-year program designed to enhance the preparation and confidence of students underrepresented in medicine to be successful in a medical curriculum. The program offers graduate-level coursework in a robust learning and teaching environment, and students can expect a positive and inclusive experience.

For more information, email msms@iupui.edu.

Doctor Camp ⁶

Doctor Camp summer program is hosted at IU School of Medicine’s Indianapolis campus in partnership with Metropolitan Indianapolis-Central Indiana Area Health Education Center. Doctor Camp targets 5th–8th grade students interested in exploring careers in medicine or other health professions. The program objectives are to increase participants’ knowledge of the medical profession, foster awareness of disease-health career connections, facilitate an interest in health professions, encourage college attendance, and provide opportunities for college preparedness and fun health science activities.

Camp MD ⁶

Camp MD summer program is hosted at IU School of Medicine’s Indianapolis campus in partnership with the Metropolitan Indianapolis-Central Indiana Area Health Education Center. Camp MD targets high school students interested in careers in medicine or other health professions. The program objectives are to increase participants’ knowledge of the medical profession, foster awareness of disease-health career connections, facilitate an interest in health professions, encourage college attendance, and provide opportunities for college preparedness and fun health science activities.

Breaking the Myths ⁶

Breaking the Myths of Health Professions is an interprofessional summer enrichment camp designed to expose underrepresented high school students to health professions. During this five-day camp, participants explore a variety of health fields including medicine, nursing, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and other health programs. Activities include educational, hands-on opportunities taught by health professionals, faculty, staff and current students. This camp is sponsored by IU School of Nursing, IU School of Dentistry, IU School of Medicine, IU School of Optometry, IU School of Health and Human Sciences and Eta Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.

Collaboration with Crispus Attucks High School ⁶

The Crispus Attucks Service Project collaborates with IPS Crispus Attucks High School, providing science lessons for high school students led by the IU School of Medicine Community & Civic Engagement office and IU School of Medicine medical students. Additionally, the school’s Center for Inclusive Excellence facilitates mentoring and career exploration activities in medicine and health professions for Health Sciences Academy students.

Graduate student pipeline programs

Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences at IU School of Medicine ⁶

Undergraduates from institutions across the country visit IU School of Medicine to experience research and professional development opportunities during the summers. These programs highlight the IU School of Medicine research and academic community and act as recruitment opportunities for graduate programs. Summer programs include the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in the Biomedical Sciences, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience for Physician-Scientists and Engineers, the Diversity Scholars Summer Research Program, the Herman B. Wells Center Summer Internship Program, the Indiana CTSI Summer Internship Program, the Simon Cancer Center Summer Research Program, and the Stark Neuroscience Summer Research Program. Throughout the summer, participants are exposed to workshops, mentoring relationships, activities with current students and faculty members, and can take advantage of one-on-one advising sessions with Indiana BioMedical Gateway admissions members to aid them in building competitive credentials and preparing their applications for graduate programs.

Indiana University-HBCU STEM Initiative ⁶

Indiana University, in partnership with multiple historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), has created The STEM Initiative to focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. The vision of the partnership is to increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM graduate programs, provide research opportunities for students and build multi-institutional STEM research collaborations. Learn more at stem.indiana.edu. 

Residency Lunch and Learn ¹

Residency Lunch and Learn addresses diverse topics in IU School of Medicine residency programs to demonstrate how medical specialties engage with diverse populations, eliminate myths about applying to residency programs, create bridges of communication between students and residency programs, and increase student knowledge about IU School of Medicine residency programs.

Faculty-in-Residence ^1,3

The Faculty-in-Residence program allows students, residents and fellows to engage one-on-one with faculty members from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This is a unique opportunity for students to learn about different specialties, career pathways, research and departments.

Underrepresented in Medicine Residency and Fellowship Recruitment Program (Second Look) ^1,3

The Underrepresented in Medicine Residency and Fellowship Recruitment Program provides funding to support second look visits to IU School of Medicine by prospective residents and fellows from backgrounds that qualify as underrepresented in medicine: African American and Hispanic/Latinx.

Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Elective Program ¹

The Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Elective Program is for fourth-year medical students and qualified third-year medical students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine attending United States medical schools (including U.S. territories). This program increases awareness of opportunities in academic medicine and encourages students from diverse backgrounds to apply to IU School of Medicine’s residency program.

Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Residency Program ³

The Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Residency Program provides the opportunity for residents who want to pursue a fellowship to spend time at IU School of Medicine facilities. This request must be initiated at least 90 days in advance of the requested start date. Early communication with the director/coordinator of the program in which you desire to rotate is critical for approval.

Incentivizing Diverse Recruitment for Equity in Academic Medicine (iDREAM)^3,4

The iDREAM Early Incentive Program offers incentives to recruit diverse talent into faculty positions at IU School of Medicine in partnership with clinical affiliates IU Health and Eskenazi Health. iDREAM PLUS Programs for attending physicians support professional development for career advancement to develop diverse leadership for IU School of Medicine and affiliated health systems.

Program to Launch Underrepresented in Medicine Success (PLUS) ⁴

Academic medicine faces ongoing challenges in recruiting, retaining, and advancing underrepresented minorities in medicine. PLUS is designed to support the career development of underrepresented faculty in academic medicine. PLUS helps units retain and promote high talent faculty from underrepresented groups who have the expertise and skills to enhance the school's mission.

Promotion and Tenure for Underrepresented in Medicine Faculty and Women ⁴

This annual event is organized by Faculty Affairs and Professional Development (FAPD) to promote in rank underrepresented minorities and women faculty.

Professional development and leadership development opportunities for Underrepresented in Medicine faculty and women ⁴

Faculty Affairs and Professional Development (FAPD) sponsors faculty for the following professional and leadership development opportunities: AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, AAMC Minority Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, AAMC Minority Mid-Career Faculty Leadership Development, and Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM).