Front row seat: The role MMI assessors play in widening access to medical school

BackgroundWhile many medical schools utilize the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) to help select a diverse student body, we know little about MMI assessors' roles. Do MMI assessors carry unique insights on widening access (WA) to medical school? Herein we discuss the hidden expertise and insights that assessors contribute to the conversation around WA.MethodsTen MMI assessors (1-10 years' experience) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring factors influencing equitable medical school recruitment. Given their thoughtfulness during initial interviews, we invited them for follow-up interviews to gain further insight into their perceived role in WA. Fourteen interviews were conducted and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.ResultsAssessors expressed concerns with diversity in medicine; dissatisfaction with the status quo fueled their contributions to the selection process. Assessors advocated for greater diversity among the assessor pool, citing benefits for all students, not only those from underrepresented groups. They noted that good intentions were not enough and that medical schools can do more to include underrepresented groups' perspectives in the admissions process.ConclusionOur analysis reveals that MMI assessors are committed to WA and make thoughtful contributions to the selection process. A medical school selection process, inclusive of assessors' expertise is an important step in WA.

Automated summary

MMI assessors play a crucial role in medical school admissions, expressing concerns about diversity in medicine and advocating for the inclusion of underrepresented groups' perspectives. They believe that medical schools can do more to promote diversity in admissions.