The Dare to be a Doctor conferences were an outgrowth of the countywide mentoring initiative developed based on the findings of the 2005 Blue Ribbon Task Force on Health Care Disparities. The task force was created to explore health care disparities in Westchester. A key recommendation from these findings was to increase the number of minority physicians and health professionals in the county. You can read more about the findings in Health Disparities among Blacks in Westchester: A Snapshot Report.
Held first in 2008 and then in 2009, the "Rx for Success: Dare to be a Doctor" conference received overwhelming responses from minority students both years. These countywide events drew over 500 students and over 200 parents and school staff each year to the County Center. In 2008, over 45 online participants (including a community center and a school) also viewed the event live via Webcast.
Students are encouraged to submit their e-mail address to join the Dare to be a Doctor student e-mail group in order to receive information throughout the year on career development resources and area events to promote their interests in becoming future healthcare professions.