The Office of Diversity and Inclusion supports programs that contribute to the educational and professional development of current medical students at Keck. We also provide opportunities for students to get involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives at Keck.
Educational and Professional Development
Mentoring Programs
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Diversity & Inclusion Mentoring Program
The CHLA Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Program (DIMP) was established in the Fall of 2020 to help medical students discover and reach their academic and professional goals, and provide them with early exposure to academic medicine and pediatrics. DIMP provides students with a support network by pairing mentees with faculty and resident/fellow mentors. For more information on CHLA DIMP, visit https://www.chla.org/diversity-and-inclusion-mentoring-program or contact dimentoringprogram@chla.usc.edu.
UIM Mentorship Families
UIM Mentorship Families is an initiative led by Keck IDEA representatives which gives medical students the opportunity to be paired with faculty and resident mentors. The purpose of this mentoring program is to build a support network and cultivate a strong sense of community among underrepresented students and physicians at Keck. Mentorship families are coordinated by Keck’s Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) for students and faculty who identify as Black and Latinx, respectively. For more information, contact SNMA at snma.usc@gmail.com or LMSA at usc.lmsa@gmail.com.
MedLambda Mentoring Program
More information coming soon!
Note: Other mentoring opportunities may be available through various Student Interest Groups. Please inquire directly with the SIGs.
Financial Support and Scholarship Programs
Althea and Frederic Alexander Support Fund
The Althea and Fredric Alexander Student Support Fund seeks to continue their legacy of supporting underrepresented minority students and their projects through an extensive network of alumni and other benefactors. Students can apply to receive funding for research activities, visiting clerkships, professional development, conferences, residency interview travel expenses, etc. For more information, contact Jason Murillo at jmurillo@usc.edu
Diversity in Medicine Visiting Clerkship Award
The Keck Diversity in Medicine Visiting Clerkship Award provides support for fourth year underrepresented in medicine medical students to participate in the KSOM visiting student clerkship program. This award is designed to help build a comprehensive sense of connection on the Keck campus by leveraging the diverse array of experiences that exist among the Trojan family as well as in the distinctly diverse community of greater Los Angeles. For more information, click here.
Volunteer Opportunities
Educación Primero
Volunteer to teach science and health lessons to elementary school students at Eastman Elementary School. This outreach program is coordinated by the Keck Latino Medical Student Association. Contact LMSA at usc.lmsa@gmail.com for more information.
Tom Bradley Mini Medical School
Volunteer to teach science and health lessons to elementary school students at Tom Bradley Elementary School. This outreach program is coordinated by the Keck Student National Medical Association. Contact SNMA at snma.usc@gmail.com for more information.
USC Med-COR Mentor Program
Be a mentor to high school students! The Med-COR Mentor Program connects students from USC’s graduate health programs with talented and promising high school students to encourage and support them in their pursuit of higher education and careers in health. Utilizing the group mentoring model, mentors serve as long-term role models for a small cohort of Med-COR students, providing inspiration, advice, and guidance to help them achieve their goals. Learn more and sign up to be a mentor here.
Keck PREP Scholars Mentor Program
Be a mentor to a pre-med undergraduate student! As medical student mentor, you will serve as a role model, guide and source of inspiration to a student in the Keck PREP Scholars program. Cultivate and build a life-long mentoring relationship with a student and make a difference in a young person’s life. Learn more and sign up to be a mentor here.