On April 16, nearly 300 people gathered to celebrate diversity and the future of health care at the Apprenticeship Bridge to College (ABC) interview day. Sponsored by the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, the ABC program aims to introduce underrepresented high school students to biomedical research careers. Students from the Inland Empire apply to the competitive program, where they are immersed in a hands-on research environment and mentored by faculty.
In contrast to the national average, which shows only 15-20 percent of underrepresented minorities completing science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degrees, nearly two-thirds of ABC program alumni graduate with STEM degrees. More than half of those students go on to pursue graduate programs, 44 percent of whom return to Loma Linda University Health for their advanced degrees.