The Access and Inclusion in Medicine Scholars Program provides a pathway for exceptional students like Dr. Shaemion McBride from HBCUs and other diverse communities.
Dr. Shaemion McBride, MD ’24, is a trailblazer in her family. As a first-generation college student and the first doctor in her family, there were pathways she had to navigate without any experience, wisdom, or knowledge from others before her.
She found support through Adtalem’s Access and Inclusion in Medicine (AIM) Scholars Program at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM). Now she’s a resident in the UCSF Fresno Pediatric Residency Program.
Adtalem’s medical schools achieved a 98% combined first-time residency attainment rate for the second straight year.* Explore specialties that students matched.
“The AIM program created an extra sense of community. Someone from the program would call every so often just to check in, see how things were going, ask if I needed any helpful resources,” says Dr. McBride. “It’s a blessing to have that support and someone looking out for my success as a student.”
The AIM program has partnerships with 13 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to provide scholarships for their graduates to attend RUSM. Along with financial support to attend medical school, the program offers students peer mentorship to help adjust to life as a medical student and acclimate to living in a new environment in Barbados.
Inspired to Address Health Disparities
Dr. McBride was raised in Compton, California, where she grew up as the middle child and eldest daughter in a family of five siblings. At an early age, she developed a strong interest in science and medicine. With the support of her parents and family, she pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Riverside, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Biological Science and Human Development.
During her college years, Dr. McBride became active in extracurricular activities related to medicine. A pivotal moment in her journey occurred when she participated in the Elma Vines Summer Health Academy, which provided an internship shadowing medical professionals. During this experience, she was introduced to the concept of health disparities—a term that resonated deeply with her as it encapsulated many of the challenges she witnessed growing up in her community. Issues such as limited access to healthcare and poor disease management became focal points in her career aspirations.
This eye-opening experience inspired Dr. McBride to pursue a path that combined public health with a medical degree. “Becoming a physician was always the end goal,” she says.
Her dedication to addressing health disparities and improving healthcare access for underserved communities continues to drive her work as a medical professional.
Where Excellence Meets Opportunity
Dr. McBride was earning master’s degrees in biomedical sciences and public health at Charles R. Drew University in South Los Angeles, California, her home state and community, when she learned about the opportunity to attend RUSM through the AIM Scholars Program.
“I think about every small, but invaluable opportunity I have had along my journey and thank God,” she says. “From after-school programs to research projects, it all has been a steppingstone on my journey and has fueled my passion for medicine and public health. It’s a story where excellence meets opportunity, shaping who I am today.
“Excellence meeting opportunity is where the spark of ambition is fueled by the right guidance, resources, and chances to shine. In this space, barriers are broken, potential is realized, and the path to success is paved with both determination and support. It reminds us that when you’re given the opportunity to pursue your passion, your excellence can lead to extraordinary achievements.”
For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.
*First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2024-25 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2023-24 who were active applicants in the 2024 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
