Oakland, CA - In an effort to address critical shortages in medicine, Mentoring in Medicine and Sinkler Miller Medical Association is committed to increasing minorities in the health profession by turning young dreamers into healthcare professionals.

Mentoring in Medicine presented its first annual conference entitled "Toward a Career in Health" in October at he Samuel Merritt College Health Education Center in Oakland, CA. Over 300 students, professionals and community members participated in this professional discussion and exchange forum to further opportunities for youth interested in a career in healthcare. Mentoring in Medicine also provided a networking luncheon.

According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, ethnic minorities make up approximately 25% of the U.S. population, but merely 6% are practicing physicians and there are only 12% of ethnic medical school graduates. "Educating and preparing our youth for the challenges of becoming a physician or health care professional is our major goal," says Dr. Jocelyn Freeman Garrick of Mentoring in Medicine.

Three physicians and an educator who have mentored students collectively for over 20 years founded Mentoring in Medicine. Created in 2006, the organization is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to academic enrichment, leadership development and mentoring urban students interested in pursuing a health care profession. They have created interventions for students from elementary school through graduation from health professional schools. Mentoring in Medicine programs has successfully served nearly 1350 students and over 300 health professionals have been recruited. Mentoring in Medicine operates in Harlem, New York and Oakland, California.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Dr. Freeman-Garrick at 510-290-0917.

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