| Undeniably, access to medical education has become more competitive while substantial disparities in the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds of medical students persist. Efforts have focused on developing initiatives or programs that promote and support diversity, including the adoption of holistic review practices in the medical school admissions process. Medical school admissions committee members are rarely at the forefront of discussions of the diversification of medical school enrollment, however, yet through these new processes they have become the gatekeepers of the medical profession.;The medical community must pay greater attention to the individuals tasked with admitting the future generation of physicians. In order to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities, we must know and understand more about the individuals selecting students for medical school admissions. In particular, we need to know more about what they value among applicants, and more about their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the admission process. With that in mind, this study built on previous research by the Association of American Medical Colleges that identified which attributes and competencies are valued in medical school applicants. This study specifically examined the demographic composition, institutional roles, committee responsibilities and values of UC medical school admissions committee members.;The data collection and analysis of this mixed method study involved a self-administered online survey, which was analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative data were collected via open-ended survey questions and through published medical school documents that were used to assess the alignment between attributes and competencies identified in the study and institutional mission and diversity statements. Eighty-six medical school admissions committee members participated in the multi-site study that included representation from all five UC medical school campuses.;Findings confirm prior research regarding the demographic composition of admissions committee members. Medical school admissions committee members were primarily White males who worked as clinical faculty at their medical institutions. However, findings suggest an increase in the representation of women on medical school admissions committees. Unique generational characteristics emerged, including committee members being primarily Generation X, followed by Baby Boomers, and Millennials. Recruitment and retention of committee members varied: 9.3% had served on their committees for less than one year, while over 18.8% had served for over 11 years.;There were many similarities with prior AAMC studies with respect to valued attributes and competencies. Findings showed that integrity, compassion and empathy, professionalism, and motivation for a career in medicine were among the top attributes identified by both studies. However, UC admissions committee members were significantly more likely to value compassion and empathy than were AAMC study participants. Generationally, Baby Boomers valued integrity, desire to learn, and reliability and dependability significantly more than Millennials.;Further case studies are needed to identify the attributes and competencies valued by specific medical institutions. Efforts toward the diversification of medical school enrollment need to include attention to the role that medical school admissions committee members play in the process. |
