BY GRACE HAMMERSTROM

Despite the increasing diversity of American society, fewer minority students are pursuing careers in medicine -- a trend that Stanford Medical Center's Health Careers Opportunity Program, known as HCOP, is trying to reverse.

This six-week summer residential program for 25 minority or disadvantaged college sophomores strives to make medical school enrollment better reflect national demographics. It also makes a medical career a reality for many minority students.

"HCOP was the turning point in my pre-med career," said Ana Miranda, who graduated from the program in the summer of 1998. "It gave me the confidence that I could succeed." Since completing HCOP, Miranda, who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador, has graduated from USC with a degree in psychobiology. She will attend Stanford's School of Medicine in the fall.

Twenty-two-year-old Edgar Macias credits HCOP with providing him the motivation and mentoring he needed to be successful in medical school. "Before HCOP, medical school was a dream not quite within my grasp," Macias recalled. "After the program, it became a reality." Accepted to four prominent medical schools, Macias -- the first in his family to graduate from college -- will attend Harvard Medical School in the fall of 2002.

Like Macias and Miranda, students who participate in HCOP learn firsthand what it's like to be a medical student. They take medical school courses, shadow physicians during rounds and dissect cadavers -- experiences they could never have as undergraduates.

An HCOP student's day can last from eight to 12 hours or more, with classes in medical school admissions, cell biology, anatomy, personal-statement writing and research. Every Tuesday night they dine with medical student mentors. And before graduating, students take a simulated MCAT exam, make poster presentations on research theories and participate in mock medical school interviews.

"HCOP gives students the information they need to strengthen their applications to medical school," said Ronald Garcia, PhD, who directs both HCOP and Stanford's Center of Excellence. "Many of these students are first-generation college students. They don't always have the resources from their families or colleges to successfully navigate the application process. We're making up for a lot of information and role modeling that wasn't there earlier in their lives."

Personal attention and mentorship are hallmarks of the program. "We try to get to know each student individually," said HCOP associate director Kathryn Fitzgerald, who oversees the program. Fitzgerald provides an informal mentoring opportunity by scheduling her lunch time to meet with every student over the course of the summer, and also teaches the personal-statement writing course.

It's not uncommon for HCOP graduates to stay in contact with staff and student mentors long after the summer ends. In fact, 1997 graduate Masud Basel is meeting with Garcia this summer to go over his application for medical school. HCOP fosters this type of personal attention, said Garcia, who personally writes letters of reference for HCOP participants.

"Mentorship is a big part of what we do," he said. And it's a big reason the program has limited itself to 25 students, despite similar programs across the country growing to more than 100 participants. "We don't want to sacrifice the relationships, the mentorship or the personal touch," said Garcia who is also assistant dean for minority affairs. "I don't think we could offer our type of program with that many students. If you can get 25 motivated students and really nourish them, you're making a tremendous contribution to the applicant pool."

HCOP targets students who have just finished their sophomore year of college. Rather than recruiting only top performers, the program focuses on the middle group of students as well as students who are highly motivated and committed and who could benefit from a summer at Stanford. The typical HCOP student has a sincere interest in practicing medicine, is interested in practicing in underserved areas and has overcome obstacles, added Fitzgerald.

Since 1997, 104 students have graduated from HCOP, and many of these participants are now beginning or applying to medical school. This fall, two HCOP grads will attend Stanford's School of Medicine.

HCOP culminates in a formal graduation ceremony, which takes place at 5 p.m. Aug. 3 in Fairchild Auditorium. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.