Supported through a grant from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Program Introduction

Launched in 2025, the HERO/Parent Academy at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science aims to address the ongoing underrepresentation of Black men in medicine. While many pathway programs focus exclusively on students, HERO/Parent Academy takes a dual-tenant, whole-community approach. The program:

1. Offers medically focused career exposure, mentorship, academic readiness, and psychosocial support to caregivers - which could include parents, mentors, teachers, and coaches.
2. Equips heroes with tools to navigate and support the premedical journey alongside their students. 

The program was sponsored by a grant from the AAMC in conjunction with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 
 

Relevance to ASPBP

HERO/Parent Academy embodies ASPBP's mission to broaden and deepen pathway access through community-anchored, inclusive programming. It centers parent and mentor engagement—often an overlooked element in pathway models—and directly addresses the declining representation of Black men in medicine. The program is replicable, culturally responsive, and anchored in long-term relational support.
 

Target Population

The program serves influential adults—parents, mentors, teachers, and guardians—from underserved communities in Lake County, IL, which possesses some of the highest Structural Vulnerability Indicators in the state. Special focus is given to those with students expressing interest in health professions or who previously participated in our Mini Medical School pathway initiative. The curriculum is available upon request. 
 

Lessons Learned

Challenges, Accomplishments, and Best Practices

Challenges:

• Recruitment takes time and community engagement.
•  Consistent caregiver participation required flexible scheduling, trust-building, and culturally resonant communication.

Accomplishments:

• 100% of families reported increased confidence in supporting their students' academic journeys
• Several new students enrolled in our Mini Medical School following caregiver participation

Best Practices:

• Parallel programming for students and adults fostered shared language and understanding
• Culturally affirming storytelling and Black physician facilitators increased engagement and commitment

Transferability

Other institutions can adopt and adapt this model. We plan to develop a toolkit and facilitator guide to support national replication and scalability.
 

Impact Summary

To assess outcomes, pre- and post-surveys were completed by participants:

The survey results showed a consistent improvement in knowledge, with increases ranging from an initial 9% to ending at 55%.

• 100% rated the program a 4 or 5 out of 5
• 100% would recommend to others
• Most valued sessions: Mental Health, Financial Tools, and Student Forums
• Top requests: More MCAT information, and academic milestones