Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

Universal versus Targeted Stipends: How to Reduce Inequity While Avoiding Stigma in Medical Education

Mark Benton

University of Missouri

Nicolas Reece

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v2i2.5620

Keywords: Universal, stipend, medical education, underrepresentation

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Abstract

Medical education pathway programs address disparity in the medical workforce, particularly in rural areas, but inequity between program participants detracts from the goal. Universal, rather than targeted, stipends overcome this inequity. We report an evaluation of a universal stipend program for undergraduate students in a medical education pathway program. The stipend covers costs associated with preparing to take the MCAT exam. Findings reveal that students who are less advantaged, have lower income, and whose parents have less education, received more benefits from the stipend than those from advantaged backgrounds. The universal stipend design avoids stigmatizing recipients while it helps grow the medical education pathway.

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Author Biographies

Mark Benton, University of Missouri

Mark Benton (he/him) (mbenton@mail.missouri.edu) is an assistant research professor at the University of Missouri (MU) in the Department of Public Health in the Center for Health Policy. His interests include program evaluation, medical education, and public administration.

Nicolas Reece

Nicolas Reece (he/him) (nwrrh7@mail.missouri.edu) is a data analyst at the Pettis County Health Department in Sedalia, MO. He has an undergraduate Health Science degree and an MPH degree from MU. His interests include health policy and addressing rural health disparities.

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