The Supreme Court’s rejection of race being considered for eligibility criteria at two of the nation’s most storied universities, Harvard and UNC Chapel Hill, will have devastating consequences for the diversity of our healthcare workforce.
Of course, the Court’s ruling changes the landscape of our colleges and universities, but any progress made in supporting a healthcare workforce that is more representative of the population has essentially been lost.
underrepresented groups including Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals, make up about 34% of the US population, but only 19% are registered nurses, 12% are physicians, 11% are pharmacists, and 10% are dentists—a stark underrepresentation of the population. serves.
The inequity gap in our health care workforce at every level is significant, coupled with an ever widening gap in health disparity for communities of color, these two facts should receive the immediate attention of health care administrators and leaders.
As the founding dean of UC Irvine Public Health, home to one of the largest public health student sororities in the field where more than half of our graduating class are first-generation students, I want to share evidence of the importance of a diverse workforce in the concern.
There are plenty of reasons why a diverse healthcare workforce will lead to better health for everyone, but I’ll focus on three factors:
First, a diverse healthcare workforce is better equipped to understand and respond to the needs of diverse patient populations. Research consistently shows that patients receiving care from healthcare providers with a similar background experience better health outcomes. Affirmative action policies facilitate the recruitment and retention of individuals from marginalized communities, leading to a more culturally competent healthcare workforce. It’s a positive cycle that benefits everyone in the entire system – right down to the patient and caregiver. Fairer outcomes could save the US economy up to $1 trillion a year, as a result of supporting a diverse healthcare workforce. For example the Sinai health system uses community health workers to help children disproportionately affected by asthma in Chicago and an estimated $3 to $8 in health care costs are prevented for every $1 spent on the program.
Second, education plays a critical role in promoting health literacy and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health. A diverse and well-trained healthcare workforce not only expands the number of healthcare professionals, but also contributes to community development and health promotion initiatives, ultimately improving public health in the communities most in need of support. A randomized control study of 1,300 black men treated for hypertension with black or non-black male physicians reported that black doctors could reduce the gap between black and white men in cardiovascular mortality by 19%, leading to longer lives and greater savings for the healthcare system. In addition, individuals from diverse backgrounds who work in healthcare serve as role models and mentorsencouraging communities of color to access health care, ultimately breaking down barriers, including structural racism, so that the next generation is welcomed into critically important health professions.
Third, a more diverse healthcare workforce not only opens up new perspectives for solving problems, but also encourages underrepresented communities to seek medical care. Affirmative action does not undermine meritocracy; instead, it promotes innovation, creativity, and a more empathetic understanding of others. It has long been known that diversity of thought leads to innovation, which benefits both the public and private sectors.
As a public health issue, affirmative action serves as an essential step toward creating a fairer, more inclusive society that values the health and well-being of all its citizens. Without affirmative action policies, we will have to prioritize diversity – and it will be critical that healthcare and academia leaders, policymakers and our collective society recognize the profound impact of fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion at every level of education and training.
As Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson put it best, “The takeaway is that those who demand that no one thinks about race (a classic pink elephant paradox) refuse to see, much less solve, the elephant in the room – the race-related inequalities that continue to hinder the realization of our great nation’s full potential.