New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals has launched a new initiative focused on increasing physician diversity within the health system.
The initiative is called Medical Opportunities for Students and Aspiring Inclusive Clinicians, or MOSAIC, according to a Feb. 8 news release from the health system. MOSAIC will initially be supported by $500,000 from NYC Health + Hospitals' philanthropic funds.
"NYC Health + Hospitals' new MOSAIC initiative will expose more young New Yorkers of color to working in healthcare… paving the way for good, stable jobs and a bright future, while simultaneously giving New Yorkers access to doctors that have experienced many of the same issues they have had in the past," New York Mayor Eric Adams said in the release.
MOSAIC has a visiting scholars program, which will fund up to 10 students in its inaugural year in a variety of specialties, from plastic surgery to emergency medicine. The program aims to fund up to 30 scholars in subsequent years.
The initiative will also provide youth training starting with students in middle school through partnerships with Mentoring in Medicine and East Side House, the release said. It will also develop targeted recruitment and retention programs for attendings.
MOSAIC aims to support groups underrepresented in medicine, including individuals who are Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Alaska Native and Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, the release said.