More Minorities Enrolling in Medical School, Study Shows
Darryl Fears, Washington Post, October 13, 2010
More minorities enrolled in medical schools across the country this year, a sign that more black, Hispanic and Native American students are interested in pursuing careers in medicine as the nation begins to implement the new health-care law, according to a study released Wednesday by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Hispanic men represented the most significant increase compared with 2009, about 17 percent, while overall enrollment by Hispanic men and women rose 9 percent. The number of new African American medical students increased about 3 percent, the study said.
Native American enrollment increased by nearly 25 percent over last year, but the numbers were small compared with other minority groups.
{snip}
The association projects that the nation will have a shortage of 90,000 doctors by 2019, even as the health-care overhaul, which will provide insurance to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured, creates a higher demand for physicians.
{snip}
[Editor’s Note: A related story concerning the increase of non-whites in the medical professions can be read here.]
