The United States is rapidly transforming into one of the most racially and ethnically diverse nations in the world. Groups commonly referred to as minorities—including Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives—are the fastest growing segments of the population and emerging as the nation's majority. Despite the rapid growth of racial and ethnic minority groups, their representation among the nation's health professionals has grown only modestly in the past 25 years. This alarming disparity has prompted the recent creation of initiatives to increase diversity in health professions.



In the Nation's Compelling Interest considers the benefits of greater racial and ethnic diversity, and identifies institutional and policy-level mechanisms to garner broad support among health professions leaders, community members, and other key stakeholders to implement these strategies. Assessing the potential benefits of greater racial and ethnic diversity among health professionals will improve the access to and quality of healthcare for all Americans.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Reconceptualizing Admissions Policies and Practices
3 Costs and Financing of Health Professions Education
4 Accreditation and Diversity in Health Professions
5 Transforming the Institutional Climate to Enhance Diversity in Health Professions
6 Community Benefit as a Tool for Institutional Reform
7 Mechanisms to Garner Support for Institutional and Policy-Level Diversity Initiatives
Appendix A: Data Sources and Methods
Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographies
Commissioned Papers: Contribution A: Increasing Diversity in the Health Professions: A Look at Best Practices in Admissions
Contribution B: The Role of Public Financing in Improving Diversity in the Health Professions
Contribution C: The Role of Accreditation in Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Health Professions
Contribution D: Diversity Considerations in Health Professions Education
Index