AMA says diverse workforce is a key strategy to combatting health disparities
THURSDAY, July 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the University of Texas at Austin’s consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions has implications for medical schools, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
In an amicus brief associated with the case and in other publications, the AMA acknowledges that certain segments of the U.S. population have been slow to benefit from medical advancements. Combatting these health care disparities through projects intended to increase diversity among physicians is a strategy the AMA is actively pursuing.
Medical schools in the United States have obligations not just to applicants, but to society at large, the AMA says. This includes redressing current disparities in health care through the development of a diverse workforce. Furthermore, the AMA says several studies have shown that patients who share racial or gender characteristics with their treating physicians report greater satisfaction and higher rates of medication compliance, making a diverse medical workforce an important strategy to combat health disparities.
“The goal of increasing medical career opportunities for minorities is an important step in developing a diverse physician workforce that will help bridge the gap in racial health disparities,” Andrew W. Gurman, M.D., president of the AMA, said in a statement.
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