In 2003, the Institute of Medicine noted the need to improve workforce diversity. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) responded by developing the Minority Recruitment Initiative (MRI) to recruit diverse physicians/scientists into hematology. We evaluated the outcomes of the program. From 2004-2022, there were 405 awardees. Compared to national estimates, MRI awardees were less likely to discontinue their degree programs. MRI graduate student awardees 0% attrition (97.5% confidence interval (CI) 10.6%) while national minority graduate student attrition was 36%. Medical student awardees had 2.2% (95% CI 0.61%, 5.6%) attrition compared to minority medical school attrition of 5.6%. Awardees were more likely than expected to pursue hematology-oncology (5.7% minority national estimate) as 14.4% (95% CI 8.1%, 23.0%) of medical student awardees and 88.5% (95% CI 70.0%, 97.6%) of early career awardees remain in the field. ASH has developed a successful program, but continued efforts are needed to advance equity in hematology.
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Review Article|
October 21, 2026
American Society of Hematology: Building a Comprehensive Minority Recruitment and Retention Professional Program
Margo Renee Rollins,
Margo Renee Rollins
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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Rahma Warsame,
Rahma Warsame
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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Melody Smith,
Melody Smith
Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
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Arturo Molina,
Arturo Molina
Protagonist Therapeutics, Newark, California, United States
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Rayne H. Rouce,
Rayne H. Rouce
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
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Belinda R Avalos,
Belinda R Avalos
Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
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Cage S. Johnson,
Cage S. Johnson
University of Southern California, los angeles, California, United States
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Jose A. Lopez,
Jose A. Lopez
Bloodworks Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
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Alexis A. Thompson,
Alexis A. Thompson
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Lisa Fanning,
Lisa Fanning
American Society of Hematology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
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Patricia Frustace,
Patricia Frustace
American Society of Hematology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
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Keelin Roche,
Keelin Roche
American Society of Hematology, Washginton, District of Columbia, United States
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Nathalie van Havre,
Nathalie van Havre
American Society of Hematology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
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Devon Mack,
Devon Mack
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
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Christopher R. Flowers,
Christopher R. Flowers
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
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Deirdra R Terrell
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
* Corresponding Author; email: [email protected]
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Blood Adv bloodadvances.2024013519.
Article history
Submitted:
April 29, 2024
Revision Received:
August 30, 2024
Accepted:
September 23, 2024
Citation
Margo Renee Rollins, Rahma Warsame, Melody Smith, Arturo Molina, Rayne H. Rouce, Belinda R Avalos, Cage S. Johnson, Jose A. Lopez, Alexis A. Thompson, Lisa Fanning, Patricia Frustace, Keelin Roche, Nathalie van Havre, Devon Mack, Christopher R. Flowers, Deirdra R Terrell; American Society of Hematology: Building a Comprehensive Minority Recruitment and Retention Professional Program. Blood Adv 2026; bloodadvances.2024013519. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013519
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