MCW School of Medicine Announces New Health Equity Scholars Program
Why is HESP Important?
HESP Key Elements
Financial Support
Health Equity Training
Psychosocial Support
Living-Learning Community
Eligibility
We are looking for applicants who have a demonstrable interest in addressing health care disparities and will support these students’ growth into physician-leaders who can transform healthcare alongside the Milwaukee communities in which they serve.
To be eligible for HESP, you must:
- Be a member of a group underrepresented in medicine (URiM)
- Have a demonstrated financial need
- Have a demonstrable interest in health equity
- Enrollment in the HESP program is contingent on meeting all of the pre-matriculation requirements for the School of Medicine
Application
A select number of HESP applicants who submit the written HESP application will be invited for a virtual interview. All invitations to interview for HESP will be sent via email. Selection factors for HESP include the HESP written application, experiences, interest in and aptitude for health equity work, and the personal interview.
Helpful Information
-Submit your primary application through AMCAS and choose the Regular MD program
-On the secondary application, designate MCW-Milwaukee as your campus preference and where prompted, indicate that you are interested in the Health Equity Scholars Program
-Applicants who are accepted into the MCW-Milwaukee SOM and meet HESP eligibility requirements will receive an additional application for HESP via email
-Interviews for HESP will take place virtually and will be granted to eligible applicants who have been accepted into the MCW-Milwaukee School of Medicine and have completed the HESP written application
Note: You are strongly advised to apply and complete your primary and secondary applications early
Meet Our Planning Team
The HESP Planning Team: HESP was implemented following a year-long needs assessment and design process conducted by an dedicated, experienced, and creative team of MCW faculty, staff, and students and leaders from the Milwaukee community who have expertise in the city’s needs and who are heavily invested in its growth and thriving. The needs assessment included key stakeholder interviews, focus groups with URIM students at MCW, and a comprehensive literature review. The resulting design of HESP reflects a collaborative, placed-based approach to teaching and learning health equity.

Genyne Edwards, JD
Founder & Partner, P3 Development Group

Cassie Ferguson, MD
Associate Director, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education; Director, Student Pillar, Kern Institute

Michael Levas, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Director of Social Medicine, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Medical Director, Project Ujima; Associate Director, Comprehensive Injury Center

Jane Machi, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Member, Student Pillar, Kern Institute

Joshua Parish, NRP, MSc, MPH
Assistant Chief - EMS, Training, & Education City of Milwaukee Fire Department

Devarati Syam, PhD
Program Manager, Student and GME Pillars, Kern Institute

Omar Syed
M4, Medical College of Wisconsin


Egal Warsame
Second-Year MCW Medical Student; MPS Graduate
Questions?
Please reach out to:
Dr. Cassie Ferguson, Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Director of the Student Pillar, Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education (cferguson@mcw.edu)
or
Dr. Devarati Syam, HESP Program Manager (dsyam@mcw.edu)

The Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education
Our Partner Organizations
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The ThriveOn Collaboration
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The African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee (AALAM)
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Milwaukee Health Care Partnership
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Region of Choice
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