Dominican to Boost Physician Training with Morehouse Med School

Dominican Hospital is one of seven sites selected to address the shortage of diverse clinicians via a partnership between CommonSpirit Health, Dignity Health’s parent company, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

The Nov. 30 announcement launches the first phase of the More in Common Alliance, a 10-year, $100 million initiative to expand medical education and improve access and quality of care for patients.

“We know that, statistically and anecdotally, patients have better outcomes when treated by a clinician who comes from a similar background,” said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, a historically Black medical school and a leading educator of primary care physicians.

“Yet, in the medical field, there are far too few providers from underrepresented groups, and the impact that has on patient care is astounding,” she added. “Our aim is to change the math and the face of health care in the U.S.”

“Dominican Hospital was chosen because of the opportunity to impact patient outcomes in the diverse community that we serve,” said Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dominican Hospital president. “We are laying the foundation for patients to have more access to culturally competent providers and for underrepresented medical students, post-graduate residents and fellows to gain community-based experience that they need to be successful in their work.”

Santa Cruz County’s population is 56% white, 34% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 1% Black.

CommonSpirit Health is one of America’s largest health systems with locations in 21 states from coast to coast.

The partnership is expected to increase medical education opportunities for more Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

Other sites besides Santa Cruz include undergraduate training opportunities at CommonSpirit hospitals in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lexington, Kentucky, and Seattle, Washington, and post-graduate residencies and fellowships in California in Bakersfield, Los Angeles and Ventura County.

Dominican Hospital is in the process of establishing its program, which includes an application process with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and typically takes several years.

With Morehouse School of Medicine as the program’s academic sponsor, post-graduate residents and fellows will benefit from training focused on addressing health inequities and underserved patients.

“Dignity Health, as part of CommonSpirit Health, trains nearly 900 post-graduate residents and fellows each year and we believe this number will grow through the More in Common Alliance,” said Dr. Gary Greensweig, system senior vice president and chief physician executive of physician enterprise at CommonSpirit Health. “We will expand upon our work with new opportunities that will build a more diverse and dynamic workforce that reflects the communities we serve.”

While the U.S. has 155 accredited medical schools, Morehouse School of Medicine and the other three historically Black medical schools produce the majority of the nation’s Black physicians.

CommonSpirit Health serves some of the most diverse communities in the country and is a leading provider of Medi-Cal services.

“The More in Common Alliance is the perfect example of what can happen when two health care organizations, devoted to the creation and advancement of health equity in underserved communities, come together,” Dr. Montgomery Rice said.

Learn more: www.moreincommonalliance.org