A qualitative study of the experiences of one group of African Americans in pursuit of a career in academic medicine

Recent reports demonstrate that medical school enrollment of minority students has continuously declined over the past several years and underrepresented minorities (URMs) continue to account for a disproportionately low percentage (less than 4%) of full-time academic faculty at medical schools in the United States. This article reports on a qualitative research project to examine the sociocultural experiences that influenced one group of minority physicians pursuing an academic medical career. Nine African American faculty, one resident, and one fellow from a Southern medical school of 574 full-time clinical and basic faculty completed 25 open-ended questions on a structured, qualitative interview plus background demographics. These nine faculty represented 82% (N = 11) of the total number of African American clinical and basic scientist faculty on campus at the end of the 1999 academic year. The narrative interviews describe key decision points, environmental and economic influences, and cultural experiences that affected faculty career choices and illustrate the real-life experiences of current minority faculty and scientists. These narratives contain significant messages for addressing policy on school campuses to improve the opportunities and likelihood of increasing the proportion of minority physicians and scientists.