Medicine schools in Illinois see fewer black and Latin students after affirmative action ban
A decline in diversity in medical students
When Valerie Santos thinks about why he studied medicine, he thinks of his grandmother, an immigrant from Guatemala.
Ten years ago his grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in stage 4 and died a short time later. Santos, 28 years old, wonders if a doctor who spoke Spanish would have been in charge of the care of his grandmother could have detected the disease before.
“He simply made me realize: ‘What could have been done, what could have been avoided, how my grandmother could have received a better service from a doctor who spoke Spanish?'” Santos said.
Now Valerie, a fourth-year medicine student at the University of Illinois in Chicago, fears that other patients can find similar obstacles if progress towards greater diversity in medical students decrease or step back after the ruling of the Supreme Court in June 2023 that race cannot be a factor in university admissions.
Decline in black and Latin students in Illinois
In the first year since the decision was issued, the registration of medical students both black and Latin decreased by more than 10% nationwide for the 2024-25 school year, according to the figures published earlier this year by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
The trend is worse for black and Latin residents of Illinois. The number of Hispanic students who enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine anywhere in the country decreased by 42.6% between the 2023-24 school year and this year, according to AAMC data. The number of black students decreased by 6.5%, while that of mixed students decreased by 8.3%. Meanwhile, the number of white students increased by 13%.
Other factors also influence the decrease in inscriptions, said Norma Poll-Hunter, senior director of equity, diversity and inclusion (DEI) of the AAMC. The legislation and other strategies aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion programs in some states could be partially guilty of the downward trend, which began before President Donald Trump assumed the position, he said.
Concerns about the future
But the defenders of diversity say that the change, if it continues in the coming years, is worrying. While the country tries to combat the shortage of doctors, medical education is more important than ever, said Poll-Hunter.
“When we think about addressing the nation’s medical care needs, we want to ensure that education is accessible to all who are interested in becoming doctors,” said Poll-Hunter.
Impact on patient care
Valerie Santos (Center) said that the decrease in color students in the Faculty of Medicine after the decision of the Supreme Court not to take into account the breed in admissions is worrying for future patients.
“The implications of having a drop of 11%, 10%, even in this last year, are much more transcendental than people really think,” Santos said. “It’s not just about how many students are black, Latin, native to the Pacific Islands, [esto] It affects patients. Here people’s lives are at stake. ”
Conclusion
The decline in diversity in medical students is a concerning trend that could have long-term effects on patient care. Medical schools in Illinois and nationwide must continue to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure that the next generation of doctors is representative of the population and can provide culturally competent care.
FAQs
Q: What is the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on medical education?
A: The decision has led to a decline in diversity in medical students, which could have negative consequences for patient care.
Q: What are the implications of a decrease in diversity in medical students?
A: A decrease in diversity could lead to a lack of representation of different cultures and backgrounds in the medical field, which can negatively impact patient care.
Q: What can be done to increase diversity in medical students?
A: Medical schools can prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and encourage recruitment and dissemination efforts to attract a diverse pool of applicants.
Q: What is the role of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) in promoting diversity in medical education?
A: The AAMC is encouraging universities to analyze their current programs and increase recruitment and dissemination efforts for a wide variety of applicants to promote diversity in medical education.
