The Imperative of Socio-Economic Diversity in Medical Schools: Leveraging A.I. and Machine Learning for a Healthier Future

Introduction: A Growing Healthcare and Fiscal Dilemma

The United States healthcare system stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a widening socio-economic disparity among medical students. This issue has far-reaching implications for patient care, healthcare costs, and the overall well-being of communities, necessitating immediate attention.

The Problem: A Disconnect Between Doctors and Patients

According to Frontiers, an esteemed scientific journal, a staggering three-quarters of medical students originate from the top two household income quintiles, with approximately half belonging to the top 20% and a quarter hailing from the top 5%. This stark reality paints a concerning picture: future doctors share little in common with the socio-economic backgrounds of their future patients, potentially leading to a profound disconnect.

This disconnect can manifest in a lack of trust and communication between healthcare professionals and their patients. Patients from lower socio-economic backgrounds may harbor a sense of alienation, feeling that their doctors lack a true understanding of their concerns and needs. Consequently, they might be less inclined to seek preventive care or adhere to treatment plans, resulting in poorer health outcomes and escalating costs.

The Consequences: Delayed Care, Worse Outcomes, and Higher Costs

The absence of socio-economic diversity among doctors has a direct and measurable impact on patient care. A study conducted by Third Way, a D.C.-based think tank, revealed that patients treated by doctors from similar socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to receive preventive care, experience better health outcomes, and incur lower costs. Conversely, patients treated by doctors from different socio-economic backgrounds often face delayed or missed yearly check-ups, neglect vital preventive care, and suffer from chronic illnesses and other health complications. This delayed or missed care inevitably leads to increased doctor visits, inferior outcomes, and higher costs.

A Novel Solution: Predictive Analytics to Increase Medical School Diversity

In 2015, Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) and Tiber Health Innovation (THI) embarked on a collaborative venture to address this pressing issue. Our groundbreaking methodology, the first of its kind, harnesses the power of predictive analytics and machine learning to create a data-centric approach to medical school admissions. This innovative strategy, when synergized with a pre-medical school academic pathway program, enables us to welcome qualified students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, ultimately fostering greater diversity within the physician workforce.

How Predictive Analytics Works: Identifying Hidden Potential

Our predictive analytics model possesses the remarkable ability to estimate student performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a standardized exam that all medical students must successfully navigate to practice as physicians. This model proves particularly valuable in evaluating students from lower socio-economic backgrounds whose med school admission test scores (MCATs) might be lower but demonstrate a high likelihood of passing the USMLE Step 1 based on THI’s robust analytics platform.

Our model meticulously analyzes student results after each classroom test across all academic courses within our pathway program. This data becomes available for review within 24 hours via an intuitive administrative portal. The predictive analytics models generate rule-based remediation strategies for students based on their test performance, pinpointing areas that require focused attention to improve future scores. This remediation not only elevates their grades but also prepares them for the rigors of the Step 1 exams.

To ensure the continued relevance and validity of our analytics model, we incorporate a continuous inflow of exam data for backtesting, de-glitching, and regeneration.

Generative Prescriptive Analytics: Personalized Guidance for Student Success

Our model is poised to introduce generative prescriptive analytics, a cutting-edge technology that will provide student-specific, personalized exam score interpretation and academic guidance. This comprehensive approach seamlessly combines test result data, faculty notes, and curriculum details to offer tailored insights and guidance.

The Results: Breaking Barriers and Achieving Success

Our research has consistently demonstrated that PHSU students from lower socio-economic backgrounds (and with reduced MCAT scores) whose pre-medical school academic experience was bolstered by our methodology performed as well as and often outperformed our incoming students with higher MCAT scores on the Step 1 exams. This finding aligns with the growing body of research indicating that the MCAT is, at best, a weak to moderate predictor of success in medical school, particularly for students from underrepresented and lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The Need for Change: Embracing A.I. and Machine Learning in Medical Education

Despite the compelling evidence supporting the use of A.I., machine learning, and adaptive learning to enhance socio-economic diversity in medical schools, only a third of 140 recently surveyed higher ed CIOs expressed interest in integrating these technologies into their schools’ curricula. This lack of enthusiasm must be urgently addressed, especially if these institutions aspire to increase the socio-economic diversity of their student bodies and, by extension, of future doctors.

The Multi-Tiered Benefits of Diversity: A Healthier Future for All

Increasing the diversity of medical students and doctors yields a multitude of benefits. It fosters opportunities for improved trust and communication between healthcare professionals and their patients, leading to superior patient outcomes and reduced costs of care. Furthermore, it creates avenues for ambitious and talented practitioners from non-affluent backgrounds to share their passion for healing with the world.

Conclusion: A Path Forward

When harmonized with a specialized academic pathway program, A.I./machine learning can effectively prepare aspiring doctors from diverse socio-economic backgrounds for the demands of med school academics, the rigors of their Step 1 exams, and productive careers as skilled medical professionals. By embracing these technologies, medical schools can play a pivotal role in creating a more diverse and equitable healthcare system that benefits everyone.