Dr. Francis Lopez: Diversity in Residency, Part 1

RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine

In Part I, Dr. Lopez wanted to familiarize listeners in this grand rounds presentation with a history of minorities in medicine and to describe current trends in diversity and inclusion in medicine in general and specifically in PM&R. He identified arguments for diversity and contrasted past, present, and future recruitment efforts at NYU. He also discussed this years’ match data results. Historically, there have been many challenges for minorities to gain a foothold in medicine. He wanted to furnish objective data about this situation. These individuals had a problem right from the beginning in obtaining admission to medical schools. He described enrollment data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and compared it to U.S. Census Bureau data. Over the last 50 years, Dr. Lopez noted how medical schools have tried to do something about increasing the proportion of students from underrepresented minority groups. Specific information entailed showing what has occurred in PM&R, involving students and faculty. Comparisons then were made with overall U.S. population trends. Reasons are provided for increasing diversity and inclusion in medicine, e.g., minority patients seek doctors who look like them and more minority physicians are likely to take care of minority patients.

Note: The recruitment practices discussed in this episode were prior to the June 29, 2023 supreme court ruling on race as a specific basis for recruitment. Current practices have changed to follow federal, state and city guidelines.