EMU Today

YPSILANTI – African-American students pursuing careers in the medical field face distinct barriers that often prevent them from fulfilling their dreams, says Brianna Young, a nursing student at Eastern Michigan University.

Young will present her project, the “Barriers to African-American Nursing Student Success,” at the 2018 EMU Undergraduate Symposium on Friday, March 23.

Her research found that program incompletion and underrepresentation in health care is caused in part by lack of minority role models and minority faculty for support and mentoring, along with isolation from peers.

Young says these problems can be reduced by recognizing the barriers, increasing African-American populations in nursing programs and health care professions, and providing mentorship and support programs for minority students in health care fields.

“I intend to inspire African-Americans to overcome barriers and to seek their dream of becoming a professional health care provider,” said Young. “I want to see more people who look like me walking the halls of various health care settings.”

Young currently supports fellow African-American nursing students at EMU by serving as a Board Member of the Student Nurses' Association (SNA) and chairperson for the Student Nurses Association Peer Support Services (SNAPPS).

Through her various positions, she strives to provide mentorship and support to nursing students on the EMU campus.

“I believe providing mentorship for African-American students will enhance their perseverance, confidence, and encouragement to apply to a nursing program, get into the program and, most importantly, stay in and finish the program,” she said.

Young will present her project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Room 310 A/B in the Student Center. Her project is one of hundreds in the 38th annual event. This year’s Symposium features 205 faculty members serving as mentors to 402 unique student participants. All EMU colleges are represented at this annual highlight of undergraduate research and academic excellence.

The Undergraduate Research Symposium will take place in the Student Center at 900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti, 48197. The event is free and open to the public.

Oral and poster presentations begin at 9 a.m. and run through 4:15 p.m., with a short break from noon to 1:15 p.m. for a private luncheon. The Crossing Lines Design Expo, which displays projects that are more visual in nature, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the Undergraduate Symposium please visit the symposium website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.