The Multicultural Physicians’ Alliance (MPA) seeks to serve as the body that recruits the most talented, compassionate, committed, and innovative group of underrepresented minority physicians to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

We work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for these individuals, enabling them to grow and thrive within their chosen field as they treat and serve patients and their families. In doing so, we hope to not only impact and improve the direct delivery of patient care, but to enhance the health of the children in the communities we serve around CHOP’s hospitals and care centers.

Our mission

Founded in 2002, the MPA comprises underrepresented in medicine (URiM) residents, fellows, and attending physicians who are committed to creating a diverse workforce that affords the best and most culturally competent care to the patients and families we treat.

Through active participation in the recruitment process, we are dedicated to ensuring that the medical staff is reflective of the community that it serves.

We are also part of a collaborative Alliance of Minority Physicians (with the University of Pennsylvania Health System hospitals, CHOP, & Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania) — hear more from our members here, and read more below.

Leadership team

Co-leader  Mya King, MD (PGY-3)
Co-leader Erica Onwuegbuchu, MD, MS (PGY-3)
Co-leader Alexa Mullins, MD (PGY-3)
Recruitment Co-Chair Melodie Noel, MD (PGY 2)
Recruitment Co-Chair Kamaria Taylor, MD (PGY 2)
Recruitment Co-Chair Frances Avilo-Soto, MD (PGY-1)
Recruitment Co-Chair Yvette Portilla, MD (PGY-1)
Social Co-Chair Samantha Kisare, MD (PGY 3)
Social Co-Chair Rebekah Madrid, MD, MS (PGY 2)
Social Co-Chair Gloria Guitierrez, MD (PGY 2)
Social Co-Chair Kayla Cooper, MD (PGY 1)
Community Service Co-Chair Priya Brito, MD (PGY 3)
Community Service Co-Chair Jessica Reed, MD, MPH (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair Xzavier Killings, MD, MS (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair Natasha Stanley, DO (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair B’lane Daly, MD, MSEd (PGY 2)
AMP Liaison Dominique Cooper, MD (PGY 3)

Programming & initiatives

The MPA engages in a variety of programming to provide exposure to CHOP’s unique clinical learning environment. MPA strives to transparently display the opportunities for mentorship, community, and vast clinical exposure available to potential CHOP trainees and faculty.

Medical student conferences

CHOP's MPA is a consistent presence at regional and national medical student conferences sponsored by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). We see participation in these conferences as a crucial opportunity to engage with the broader underrepresented in medicine (URiM) medical community.

The CHOP MPA strongly aligns with the mission of both of these organizations in supporting URiM medical students and addressing the needs of underserved communities. If you're planning on attending a conference, please make sure to stop by and see us!

CHOP Visiting Clerkship Program

The Visiting Clerkship for Underrepresented Minority Students is a program designed to welcome a diverse group of medical students to CHOP and encourage exchange, shared experience and exposure.

Visiting URM students will spend four weeks on one of the following: Subspecialty Elective Rotation, Inpatient floor, Emergency Department, or the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) NICU. Accepted students will also be provided with a faculty mentor and have the opportunity to meet with the Residency Program Director, as well as spend time with residents from our Multicultural Physicians’ Alliance (MPA). The MPA meets several times a year to organize activities for recruitment, to participate in community outreach, and to provide a supportive social network for its members.

The clerkship is funded to cover students’ travel and living expenses. Visit the program website for more information, or email Dr. Jessica Fowler.

Residency interview process engagement

MPA specific recruitment

The introduction to the MPA family starts during the residency interview process. We organize socials throughout the interview season along with facilitating mentorship opportunities between current residents/faculty and applicants. Our goal is to demonstrate the diverse academic and advocacy opportunities that exist through the people who engage in work in various spaces here at CHOP.

Second look

CHOP MPA, in partnership with the Pediatrics Residency Program, sponsors a 3-day experience where interested URiM applicants can network, engage more closely with faculty who pursue similar interests, and explore CHOP along with the city of Philadelphia.

The first evening focuses on socialization and networking, with an event that brings together applicants, residents, fellows, and faculty. The second day is a full day of programming which can involve individual faculty meetings, tours of the greater CHOP campus (including primary care practices), and applicant-focused activities to help our applicants explore avenues of their interest that exist here at CHOP.

Finally, the evening social activity is often a highlight - one that brings together the entire community. The final morning is spent allowing residents and applicants more time to engage with each other over brunch so applicants can truly get a feel of the CHOP resident experience.

Community building and support

The MPA engages in a mix of activities throughout the year to build community within the group as well as to engage the broader CHOP community in matters of diversity, inclusion, and equity. As some examples, MPA sponsors:

End of year/beginning of year gatherings

Multiple times throughout the year, residents and fellows in the MPA have social gatherings at some of their favorite local restaurants or public spaces in the city. These events create a safe space outside of the hospital to foster community and mentorship. Additionally, they provide opportunities for guidance with regard to professional development while strengthening bonds amongst the MPA family.

Residency newsletter URiM spotlight

One of the ways in which MPA demonstrates its established presence in the residency program education is through its section in the daily resident newsletter. Every week, the MPA highlights a different URiM physician who has made great contributions to their respective fields in medicine. The goal of the newsletter segment is to amplify the history of URiM contributions to medical advancement.

Alliance of Minority Physicians

The UPHS-CHOP Alliance of Minority Physicians is a collaborative alliance between the University of Pennsylvania Health System hospitals, CHOP, & Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania that seeks to foster innovation by developing a robust pipeline for physicians and physicians-in-training who are underrepresented in medicine. AMP comprises over 100 medical students, over 150 residents, over 70 fellows, and over 200 attendings.

MPA and AMP frequently collaborate on programming to support their members. Through AMP, we further expand the network of URiM individuals who can come together to network, support each other, and work toward common aims.

For more information visit the UPHS-CHOP Alliance of Minority Physicians website.

In their own words

“I first experienced CHOP as a medical student through MPA's Visiting Clerkship Program. It was a month that helped me realize I could accomplish my career goals with the support of faculty, the residency program, and MPA. I'm now a third year resident here, and at every step of the way MPA has supported me both professionally and personally. Residency is difficult anywhere, but with the support of my newfound friends, mentors, and the MPA, I have grown as a physician and a person. There is a strong URiM resident contingency here at CHOP. The MPA creates a safe space for us to meet and learn from our URiM faculty mentors. Not only do we work together to foster greater diversity at CHOP, we also meet regularly just to chat and check in with each other. Through the MPA, I have met some of my new life-long friends!” - Herodes Guzman, MD

“I was invited to the MPA applicant dinner the day of my interview at CHOP and everyone involved immediately felt like family. Early communication with MPA was one of my top reasons for wanting to train at CHOP. I then joined the recruitment committee my intern year. MPA is family! One of my mentors is a fellow MPA member and I feel like our relationship is so much stronger because of MPA. One of my best friends is also a part of MPA. I feel that I have a smaller family looking out for me at CHOP.” - Yesenia Sanchez-Kleinberg, MD

“Having a community of support for URiMs has always been important to me, not just for my success but as a way to reach back and help those coming along after me. I have been connected to mentors, sponsors, and made new friends. It has also been a great outlet to explore my academic and professional interests with regard to diversity workforce efforts.” - Jessica Fowler, MD, MPH

“As a URiM, I think it is extremely important to be visible and present. We can make more impactful changes as a group than individuals. I basically found a family in MPA. I found a group of friends with whom I could share struggles and challenges that non URiM colleagues may not face.” - Ignacio Tapia, MD

Contact us

If you are a URiM physician considering residency, fellowship, or becoming faculty at CHOP, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us: mpa@email.chop.edu.