March 2021

NEW YORK, (March 30, 2021) –  Shelley Tanner, SanovaWorks CEO/President

Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program, (CCMMP), is providing opportunities to underrepresented students in medicine and healthcare. 

A Conversation with  Lauren Payne, MD

Dr. Lauren C. Payne is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at George Washington University. She is also the Director of Teledermatology at Howard University Hospital Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Payne is Chairperson to the Board of Directors for Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program.

What is CMMP?

Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program (CMMP) is a non-profit organization that was created in 2015 to provide minority students, who may come from disadvantaged or underprivileged backgrounds, with experiences that foster successful matriculation into health-professional schools.

Our mission is to encourage, support, educate, and mentor minority students. We hope to inspire and guide these students as they matriculate through their educational pursuits and healthcare careers.

Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program History 

CMMP was founded in 2015 by Dr. Byron Jasper during his Community Health Leadership Development Fellowship at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Jasper recognized the important role that mentors played in his own personal journey and sought to continue this pattern of giving back and guiding future healthcare professionals through their own journeys with the help of mentorship. CMMP was created to provide underrepresented students, who may come from disadvantaged or underprivileged backgrounds, with experiences that foster successful matriculation into health-professional schools. This will ultimately increase diversity within the medical field, which is an additional goal of the organization. 

Since its inception CMMP became a self-standing, non-profit organization in February of 2018 and now has chapters in Washington, D.C, New Orleans, LA, and Baton Rouge, LA. 

The Importance of Increasing Diversity in Medicine 

• African-Americans (AA) make up 12% of the general population in the U.S., but only 4% of the nation’s physician population 
• A study conducted by the American Academy of Medical Colleges (AAMC) in 2014 noted that the number of black male medical school applicants and matriculants has actually decreased compared to the number of black males in 1978. 
• During the 2017-2018 academic year, there were over 10,000 medical school acceptances of Caucasian applicants, compared to just 1,500 and 1,300 AA and Hispanic acceptances, respectively. 
• The New York Times published an article in August 2018 reviewing a study conducted in Oakland, CA revealing black male patients were more likely to trust and follow medical recommendations made by black male physicians compared to physicians of other races. 

All of these statistics and findings shine a spotlight on the importance of providing patients with access to health professionals from similar backgrounds as oftentimes these patients feel more comfortable and are more likely to adhere to treatment plans provided by those professionals. It was because of these, and other reasons that Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program was created. 

Our Approach to Mentoring 

CMMP takes a unique approach toward mentoring and guiding students by encouraging mentoring at all levels of education. This means students begin to acquire their mentoring and leadership skills as early as high school and will begin mentoring younger students where possible. This pattern continues at all levels within CMMP, beginning with undergraduate students and extending up to one’s professional medical careers. 

Descriptions of Programs and Initiatives 

CMMP recognizes the importance of providing students with vast opportunities, including educational, clinical, and community service focused, to ensure they are well-rounded and well-prepared as they apply to graduate and professional schools. 

 Summary of some of CMMP’s initiatives

• The Rounds Initiative – Students are presented with a real-life clinical case to allow them to start “thinking like clinicians”. 
• Clinical Research Internship – Students are provided hands-on exposure to clinical research. 
• CMMP Consults – Healthcare professional guests discuss their paths to medicine, provide advice on various topics, and answer questions from students and participants. 
• Clinical Shadowing Experience – Students are granted the opportunity to shadow clinicians in an outpatient clinical setting. 
• CMMP Pre-Med Preparation – Students are given a “crash course” in pre-med prep including mock interviews, personal statement and CV writing workshops, presentations from medical school admissions departments, and more. 
• Suture and CPR Workshops – Students are able to have hands-on practice with suturing and become American Heart Association certified in CPR. 
• The Articulate Mentors Blog – This is CMMP’s blog that discusses topics including academics, health and wellness, mentoring, and more. It provides an opportunity for students to enhance their professional writing skills. 
• Anonymous Accolades – This initiative allows “unsung heroes” to be recognized anonymously. 
• “with CMMP” – Members encourage the importance of health and wellness with local communities through the hosting of and engaging in, various physical activities including running, walking, bike riding, yoga, and other health-focused activities. 

What the Students Say

”The ability to talk to these awesome physicians and network with them was great and something I have never been able to do before.”

“I really enjoyed getting to meet people from so many different backgrounds, as it showed me that the healthcare field is super diverse and that there are so many options that I can pursue!”

“This was my first time experiencing something like this and I truly enjoyed it! I also appreciated how our current courses like genetics and organic chemistry relate to real patient cases.”

“I enjoyed the welcoming environment. The personalities were strong and made the meeting entertaining and engaging, while also still dropping knowledge in a way that we would understand easily. The information was presented with us as students in mind.”

What does Success Look Like?

We are happy to share that five former CMMP CRI Interns and National Leadership members were accepted and matriculated into medical school, Including HUCOM, Wayne State, UCSF, USHUS in 2020. And so far in 2021 two students have been accepted into medical school.

Call for Mentors
It is that time of year again! 

Are you interested in getting more involved with a non-profit organization aimed at increasing diversity in medicine –while also boosting your resume? 

CMMP is accepting nominations for the 2021-2022 CMMP National Leadership.

We welcome Health Professional School students, Physicians, and other healthcare professional mentors who are interested in assisting pre-health mentees in various capacities including:

• Providing Clinical Shadowing Opportunities
• Reviewing Personal Statements and Curriculum Vitaes
• Serving as mentors for mock interviews and The Art of Networking Events
• Serving as guests for CMMP Consults

The deadline is April 11th, 2021.

To learn more about CMMP and become involved visit the following: 

Website – www.cmmpmed.org 

Social Media
○ Instagram – @cmmpmed
○ Facebook – facebook.com/cmmpmed
○ Twitter – @cmmpmed
○ LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/cmmpmed/ 

Email – [email protected]