Center for a Healthy Maryland’s
Bridge the Gap Program
The current shortage of healthcare workers is being called the nation’s top safety concern.
The Bridge the Gap Program is an innovative initiative designed to address the critical shortage of physicians in the healthcare workforce.
By focusing on mentorship, education, and community engagement, the program aims to inspire, support, and guide underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds toward successful careers in medicine.
full-time equivalent physicians will retire by the year 2036
%
or fewer practicing physicians in the U.S. are Black or African American
%
of physicians in the U.S. are Hispanic and Latinx individuals
Become a Mentor
By connecting students with practicing physicians and other healthcare professionals as mentors, we aim to offer guidance, inspiration and support that will empower confidence and leadership skills to help students navigate the challenges of a medical career.
Join the Program
Bridge the Gap champions systemic changes to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups in medical education and practice. We provide resources and workshops that will equip students with the tools they need to excel, both academically and professionally in medical settings.
Make a Contribution
We believe that the future of health care is vitally important. This belief has led to the creation of Bridge the Gap, a program dedicated to giving high school students all over Maryland opportunities and access to a career in health care. Your support provides tremendous impact for generations to come.
Program Goals
Mentorship, Exposure & Inspiration
14% of medical students grew up in a household with a medical professional. Mentors can help provide students that needed role model for early exposure to medical careers. This also fosters confidence and leadership skills to help participants navigate the challenges of a medical career.
Understanding the Profession
93% of medical students have parents with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Having a mentor can help a student who may be the first to go to college understand the demands of a medical career, which can help them make informed decisions about pursuing the path.
Opportunities & Resources
75% of incoming medical students are from families in top 40% of U.S. income brackets. A mentorship program can provide resources, such as hands-on learning, shadowing opportunities, and guidance on the medical school application process, that lower income families might not have.
Leveling the Playing Field
With partnerships from schools across the state, including Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland as well as Morgan State, and hospital partners like MedStar Health, we will be able to level the playing field for students, no matter their household situations.
Learn More About the Bridge the Gap Program
Discover how CFHM’s Bridge the Gap program aims to build a more inclusive healthcare system where every patient feels seen, heard, and valued.