Meeting the Challenge

Minority enrichment programs play a vitally important role incurrent efforts to increase the number of health care providers from underrepresentedracial and ethnic populations and other disadvantaged groups. However, the existence ofminority enrichment programs is challenged by recent changes in the political andeconomic environment, including the sharp reduction of federal funding support in 2006.This article presents case studies of two longitudinal minority enrichment programslocated in Chicago, Illinois: the Urban Health Program (UHP) of the University ofIllinois at Chicago, and the Chicago Area Health and Medical Career Program (CAHMCP) atIllinois Institute of Technology. Prior to the cuts in federal funding, in 2005, weconducted in-person interviews with administrative staff of the two programs. Thequalitative data were supplemented with follow-up interviews conducted in 2008 withdirectors of the programs. During the interviews, we discussed how the programsresponded to the budget cuts and how the programs viewed their future prospects. Theresults of the study indicated that adequate funding is crucial for the continuedsuccess of these minority enrichment programs in ensuring a viable health professionspipeline