Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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The rapidly growing population of the United States is becoming more diversified in its ethnicity. Conversely, the orthopaedic profession has not kept pace with this increase. Although 1/3 of the total population is comprised of Latinos, African Americans, and Native Americans, only 7% of all orthopaedic surgeons represent these minorities. ⋯ Misconceptions on the part of the minority students, medical school admissions committees, and directors of orthopaedic residency training programs may lead to negative impressions and results. The purpose of this paper is to make the orthopaedic community aware of this disparity and the barriers that underrepresented minority students encounter. Hopefully an appropriate positive response by those who have the ability to make a difference will result, thus facilitating the pathway for the minority student to become an orthopaedic surgeon.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · May 1999
Biography Historical Article Classical ArticleThe black in American medicine. 1981.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · May 1999
Challenges and opportunities of racial diversity in medical education.
Racial and cultural diversity in the physician workforce (in orthopaedics this includes women) is an essential if the best healthcare for the American people is to be provided. The percentage of minorities to the white population is increasing yet their representation in medical schools and the practicing community has not risen at that same pace. Affirmative Action efforts continue to be challenged as lowering standards and depriving better qualified students admission to medical schools. ⋯ Affirmative Action should not be looked on as lowering standards, but using all available information in the selection process for medical school and residency training to ensure that the medical profession more closely mirrors the diverse racial and ethnic background of the United States population. How far a person has come and the adversity they have overcome may have far greater impact on making the correct diagnosis and setting out a proper treatment plan that the patient will accept than mastering test taking in the biologic and physical sciences. Obtaining racial and cultural diversity in the medical profession should be a national imperative.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · May 1999
Current diversity in orthopaedics. Issues of race, ethnicity, and gender.
The size and diversity of the United States orthopaedic workforce continues to interest academic graduate medical education analysts. Numerous medical groups have expressed the need for diversity in orthopaedics and in general medicine. The Association of American Medical Colleges has had two policies since the early 1970s concerning minorities in medicine. ⋯ The percentage of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican American orthopaedic residents essentially has remained unchanged. The percentage of Asian and Pacific Islander women has remained unchanged whereas the percentage of Asian and Pacific Islander men has quadrupled (2.2% in 1983 to 9.8% in 1995) during the 12 years of the study. The percentage of white women has remained virtually unchanged whereas that of white men has declined in direct relation to the increase in Asian or Pacific Islander men.