AAMC Division of Diversity Policy and Programs (DDPP)

The Division of Diversity Policy and Programs (DDPP), directed by Charles Terrell, Ed.D., supports the AAMC's firm commitment to diversity by serving two missions:

Increasing Diversity in Medical Education

The division is concerned with issues related to recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented minority students from health professions schools. The division is equally concerned with issues dealing with underrepresented minorities among medical residents and medical college faculty, administration, and management.

The division examines the various stages of the education pipeline before medical school (middle school, high school, and college) and after medical school (graduate medical education and career choices). Early intervention in the education process is given special attention through programs funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The division's long-term strategies focus on middle school and high school students and increased efforts to recruit currently enrolled minority college students into the health professions.

Participating in Community Health Issues

The division's activities also include promoting community-oriented public health concerns within academic medicine.

The division endeavors to identify and develop programs and initiatives that advance health care equity, remedy racial and ethnic disparities in health and health status, and promote cultural competence in medical care.

The division monitors legislation and governmental policies and regulations related to minority education, prepares data reports, and provides technical assistance to AAMC member institutions. The division also provides staff support to the AAMC's Group on Student Affairs-Minority Affairs Section and works with the group on issues dealing with minority medical education. Each medical school is allocated a minority affairs representative, who is designated by the medical school's dean.

Learn more about the initiatives supported by the Division of Diversity Policy and Programs.

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