Purpose and Priorities
The Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine, a cosponsored initiative of the AAMC, the National Medical Association , and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) Institute for Physician Diversity, is excited to announce the Illinois Black Men in Medicine Innovation Grant, a program to foster equal opportunities to thrive in the medical field and address the critical shortage of Black male physicians in the United States.
This grant funds projects focused on addressing barriers that influence the representation of Black male physicians in Illinois. The aim is to examine the root causes, such as institutional structures, policies, and cultural conventions, that impact the distribution of resources and opportunities.
Projects prioritize understanding the unique challenges and experiences faced by Black men in accessing and navigating medical education and career pathways, with emphasis on testing systems-based solutions to enact meaningful change. By centering real-world priorities, project outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of targeted interventions, policies, and practices aimed at increasing representation in the medical field within Illinois.
Awardees
The recipients of the Illinois Black Men in Medicine Innovation Grant are Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Sneakers to Scrubs, and the I Am Abel Foundation. These organizations will each receive $20,000 to develop innovative, replicable, systems-based solutions to increase the representation and engagement of Black men in medicine.