Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

Since 2017, the school has participated in several programs to increase student admission from "historically underrepresented" groups including the "American Association of Medical Colleges Minority Student Medical Career Fair" and the "Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students."

The school published its "Diversity and Equity Policy Statement," which recommends the following admissions goal: "Compile a list of current pre-medical pipeline activities that are ties to the specific medical student diversity categories recognized by the SOM (including those identified as underrepresented in medicine (URiM) by the AAMC; individuals who are economically disadvantaged or of low socioeconomic status, or self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group historically underrepresented in medicine – African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Appendix 3-03.1b – SOM Diversity and Equity Policy Statement 5 Native or Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander."

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion states that it is "dedicated to increasing the numbers and percentages of under-represented minorities and vulnerable populations in the medical profession." The office strives to "recruit, foster success, support and encourage faculty, residents, administration, staff and students who represent diversity in such areas as gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and other protected groups."

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee is responsible for "[d]eveloping and maintaining a diversity database to establish data integral to sustaining effective recruitment, retention, and professional development of under-represented students, faculty, and staff."

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion states that the SOM department's "pools of applicants must include women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBT individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities."

The SOM 2024-2025 Student Handbook states, "Each year, students are required to complete online training through the HMH network...All modules must be completed to ensure the student's eligibility for participation in any clinical activities." One of the modules is titled "Cultural Competency and Diversity Awareness."

The school published its "Diversity and Equity Policy Statement," which recommends that the "curriculum includes race, unconscious bias, and racial prejudices in medical training and healthcare" and that "Curricula will necessarily include discussion of bias and stereotyping and how to combat them in health care settings."

The goal of the school's "Diversity and Equity Policy Statement" is to "enhance cultural, bilingual, and diversity instruction throughout the curriculum" and to "Ensure that the undergraduate medical curriculum provides opportunities for medical students to learn: the realities of health inequity and health care disparities; the importance of finding solutions to meet the health care needs of medically underserved communities; and the basic principles of culturally effective medicine."

The school's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion states, "Curricula will necessarily include discussion of bias and stereotyping and how to combat them in health care settings."

The school published its "Diversity and Equity Policy Statement," which recommends "Develop[ing] mandatory training programs for department chairs, division heads, program directors and other hiring authorities that address the strategic importance of diversity and inclusiveness, unconscious biases, and strategies for recruiting and supporting a diverse faculty." The policy also recommends "Develop[ing] accountability measures for departmental and other search committee training processes including participation in unconscious bias and other relevant training."

One of the goals of the school's "Diversity and Equity Policy Statement" is to "promote unexplored research agendas and new areas of scholarship related to cultural and racial disparities in health and health care."

The school's "Shadowing Physicians to Educate and Elevate Diversity (S.P.E.E.D)" program provides "shadowing opportunities for Seton Hall University students who are underrepresented in medicine." In order to be eligible, students must "Identify as a student who is underrepresented in medicine" which is defined by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) as "individuals who are economically disadvantaged or of low socioeconomic status, or self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group historically underrepresented in medicine – African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander." (First generation college students, those of rural upbringing, and veterans are also included in AAMC's definition.)

The 2024 M.I.N.D.S. (Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science) Program is a "6-week paid internship for underrepresented or financially disadvantaged high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in medicine."

The school's Office of Diversity and Equity held a monthly lecture series titled "You Belong Here" (September 2021-May 2022) on the topic of healthcare careers and "what steps to take along the journey." The Office stated, "We are highlighting African American physicians and other health care professionals who are members of the faculty of the School of Medicine or otherwise affiliated with Hackensack Meridian Health."

The Diversity and Equity Committee (DEC) is responsible for "Ensuring that policies and procedures regarding diversity, inclusion, and equity in the SOM are implemented effectively and consistently."

The SOM's library provides resources on "Medical Racism" which includes links and books on the topic.

As part of its "Commitment to an Anti-Racist Culture at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine" (December 17, 2020), the school stated the following: "In order to combat racism, it is crucial that we identify it in its many forms and take actions against it. As an anti-racism organization, we are committed to identifying, discussing and challenging issues of race, ethnicity, and color and the impact they have on our organization and its people...Today’s health disparities find their roots in hundreds of years of oppression of minorities. Ongoing racism is a barrier to achieving a just society. It is our responsibility to take tangible steps to address the shameful fact that many of our neighbors do not have equal access to needed health care services."