AMA president-elect: ‘We cannot back down’ from promoting diversity in medical schools

Key takeaways:

• The AMA said it is necessary to consider race in admissions to medical schools.
• The association adopted policies that aim to reduce barriers to medical training for underrepresented populations.

As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on race-conscious admissions policies at universities, the AMA adopted a new policy of its own that recognizes the importance of considering race in admissions to diversify the workforce.

According to the AMA, the Supreme Court is expected to make a decision this month on two affirmative action cases that the association said could dissolve efforts to increase the number of medical school students from underrepresented populations. The plaintiff in both cases, Students for Fair Admissions, is suing Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, because it said their admissions policies “unfairly discriminate against white and Asian applicants for the sake of a more diverse and inclusive study body,” an AMA press release said.

“Efforts to do away with affirmative action undermine decades of progress in creating a diverse physician workforce and will reverse gains made in the battle against health disparities,” AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, said in the release. “We must bolster the pool of underrepresented students who wish to pursue a career in medicine and the consideration of race is one of many parts of the equation — along with test scores, grades and interviews — when determining the mix of students that will result in a class of physicians best equipped to serve all of the nation’s patients. We cannot back down from efforts to boost the growing representation of talented and highly qualified medical students from historically marginalized groups.”

Several states that have already banned affirmative action admissions policies are experiencing a reduction in college enrollment and completion of STEM degrees among students from underrepresented communities, according to the AMA. The association’s new policy, adopted during its House of Delegates meeting, encourages undergraduate and medical school admissions committees to continue implementing race-conscious admission practices.

The AMA adopted additional policies to support diversity in medical schools, including one that disputes using legacy status as a screening tool for admissions “due to its discriminatory outcomes,” according to a press release. Specifically, the policy opposes formal legacy questions by medical schools during the application process.

“Preferential legacy admissions are yet another barrier for students from underrepresented groups for entry into medical school. Physicians’ children are 24 times more likely to become physicians than their peers, and yet our workforce does not consistently reflect the population of patients we serve,” AMA Board Member Toluwalase Ajayi, MD, said in the release. “It is important to level the playing field for disadvantaged students who may not have the same resources or knowledge of medical school admissions through an equitable admissions process.”

The AMA also updated its Continued Support for Diversity in Medical Education policy to acknowledge the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in medical training and oppose actions that limit DEI initiatives, curriculum requirements and funding in medical education.

“Ongoing efforts attacking DEI initiatives and opposing their funding hinders our common goal of creating a well-equipped and culturally responsible physician workforce,” AMA Board Member Pratistha Koirala, MD, PhD, said in the release. “DEI work at academic medical institutions is already hindered by limited financial support and limited dedicated staff. We must continue to support and build up these programs to create a safe and welcoming environment for medical students and staff.”

References:

• AMA adopts policy for race-conscious admissions in higher education. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-adopts-policy-race-conscious-admissions-higher-education. Published June 13, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023.
• AMA announces new policies during second day of annual meeting. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-announces-new-policies-during-second-day-annual-meeting. Published June 13, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023.
• Recognizing diversity’s benefits in classrooms — and exam rooms. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/recognizing-diversity-s-benefits-classrooms-and-exam-rooms. Published Oct. 31. 2022. Accessed June 13, 2023.