The Urgency of Increasing Black Men in Medicine
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC, 2023) and the National Medical Association (NMA) recently announced a joint effort. Together, they are convening the Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine. This initiative aims to address the severe lack of representation of African American (Black) men in the medical field. This national crisis is gaining more attention, especially considering a startling fact: more Black men were applying to and entering medical schools in 1978 than in recent years.
Since 2014, there has been only a marginal increase in the medical school enrollment of Black men. In fact, Rivero (April 19, 2021) reports a concerning trend. He notes that “although the percentage of Black women physicians increased 2.7 percentage points between 1940 and 2018, the proportion of physicians who are Black men during the same period has remained essentially unchanged.”
The Importance of Representation in Healthcare
Why is this lack of representation so critical? And what about the progress for Black women?
MGH News and Public Affairs (April 14, 2022) reported some positive news over a 42-year span. “Female representation increased dramatically, and female clinical faculty leaped from 14.8 percent in 1977 to 43.3 percent in 2019.” Furthermore, the proportion of female deans rose significantly, from zero to 18.3 percent.
However, the progress for women highlights a stark contrast. AAMC data indicates that the growth and representation of Black men in medicine have stagnated or even decreased. This is particularly true among clinical faculty and department chairs, a trend that began about a decade ago.
Connecting Representation to Patient Outcomes
Research clearly demonstrates that patient outcomes improve with a more diverse medical workforce. Individuals are more likely to visit a doctor and be honest about their health concerns if their physician is of the same race and, to a lesser extent, gender. For instance, a 2020 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that African American patients report better experiences when their doctor is also African American. This connection is vital for addressing health disparities. Moreover, a 2022 Gallup poll revealed that 53% of African Americans find it challenging to locate a same-race doctor, underscoring the scarcity.
Systemic Barriers and Collaborative Solutions
Several factors contribute to the health disparities seen in African American communities. The lack of available African American doctors in the United States often worsens these gaps. Recognizing this, the AAMC and the NMA are focusing on systemic change. They understand the need for increased collaboration across the entire education pipeline to address the persistent barriers that Black men face on their journey into medicine.
After two years of planning, the Action Collaborative is now moving into its next phase. This requires engaging a broader range of partners, including those in K-12 education, higher education, academic medicine, and professional organizations.
During a recent Summit, participants identified key factors influencing the pipeline for Black boys and men interested in medicine. These factors span premedical education, academic medicine, and sociocultural environments. Specifically, within academic medicine, issues include pathway programs, recruitment, admissions, and leadership accountability for diversity. Unfortunately, many of these challenges are deeply embedded in institutional structures shaped by systemic racism. Negative narratives and climates that are not inclusive of Black men continue to pose significant obstacles.
References:
AAMC. (2023). Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine. https://www.aamc.org/about-us/equity-diversity-inclusion/action-collaborative-black-men-medicine
Gasman, M. (November 23, 2022). Why Increasing Black Men In Medicine Is Essential. Why Increasing Black Men In Medicine Is Essential (forbes.com) Why Increasing Black Men In Medicine Is Essential (Forbes.com)
MGH News and Public Affairs (April 14, 2022). Women see gains, Black men see losses in U.S. medicine. A diversity lag in U.S. medicine includes stalled progress for Black men – Harvard GazetteRivero, E. (April 19, 2021). Proportion of Black physicians in U.S. has changed little in 120 years, UCLA research finds. Proportion of Black physicians in U.S. has changed little in 120 years, UCLA research finds | UCLA.
#BlackMenInMedicine #HealthEquity #DiversityInHealthcare #SystemicChange
