Journal of surgical education
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Underrepresented minority (URM) medical students face many educational challenges. Barriers include lack of equitable representation, scarce mentorship, and the effects of systemic racism. For students interested in diversity and health equity, perceptions of surgical culture may discourage pursuing surgical specialties. We describe a national pilot for a novel surgical pipeline program, Leadership Exposure for the Advancement of Gender and Underrepresented Minority Equity in Surgery (LEAGUES), which utilizes early exposure, mentorship, and community building to empower URM students in pursuit of academic surgical careers. ⋯ LEAGUES program participants acquired tools and motivation to pursue careers in surgery, and established valuable longitudinal network and mentor relationships. LEAGUES is a novel model for national surgical pipeline programs.