Mentor Program Reaches Out to Minority Psychiatrists
Abstract
Credit: Eve BenderâOftentimes there is difficulty with transitioning into residency and understanding the nuances of residency training and in dealing with the majority group,â observed Higgins, president-elect of the Black Psychiatrists of America and Black Psychiatrists of Greater Houston. âAs much as many would like to ignore it, racism and stereotyping still occur in America... .Many of these challenges can be embarrassing to residents and cause them to become further isolated, which compounds the stress of residency training.â Meeting part icipant Anu Matorin, M.D., also noted that many minority trainees can feel isolated during residency. Annelle Primm, M.D., M.P.H. (left), director of APA's Office of Minority and National Affairs, greets psychiatrist Mae McMillan, M.D., at a reception to launch a regional minority mentors network last month in Houston. Credit: Eve Bender Matorin, who is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, told Psychiatric News that many minority medical students, residents, fellows, and early career psychiatrists experience similar challenges throughout their professional careers and âreport feeling isolated and detached from their professional peers, many times due to inadequate mentorship, uncertainty regarding how to seek out leadership