Sharp Decline in Black and Hispanic Medical School Enrollment Following Affirmative Action Ban
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The 2024-2025 academic year has seen a decline in Black and Hispanic enrollment in U.S. medical schools, with drops of 11.6% and 10.8%, respectively, according to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). These declines, following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end affirmative action in higher education, translate to a loss of over 250 Black and 300 Hispanic medical students compared to the previous year. Enrollment among American Indian/Alaska Native students fell even more sharply, at 22.1%.
This decrease raises significant concerns about the future diversity of the physician workforce. Experts like Dan Ly, MD, PhD, of UCLA, warn that the medical profession risks “losing a generation of doctors” from historically underrepresented groups, exacerbating existing healthcare disparities.
Although the number of applications from Black and Hispanic individuals slightly increased this year (by 2.8% and 2.2%, respectively), acceptance rates have declined, potentially due to the inability to consider race as a factor in admissions. AAMC’s senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Norma Poll-Hunter, PhD, emphasized the importance of diversity in medical education, noting that it enhances patient care and fosters better civic and cultural understanding among future physicians.
The Supreme Court’s decision, alongside legislative actions in states like Florida and Texas targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, underscores a broader shift in higher education policy. While the ruling aimed to promote fairness in admissions, critics argue it may deepen inequities in medical training and care delivery.
This sharp enrollment drop highlights the urgent need for alternative strategies to address systemic barriers and ensure a diverse and representative physician workforce to meet the healthcare needs of all communities.
‘Losing A Generation of Doctors’: Black, Hispanic Medical School Enrollment Drops Sharply After Supreme Court Decision (Medscape, Dotinga,1/15).
