Minority Faculty and Academic Rank in Medicine

Abstract

RECENT EFFORTS to improve the representation of minority faculty in academic medicine have focused on increasing the number of minority physicians who pursue academic careers.^1,2 However, the number of minority students entering medical schools has plateaued, despite efforts to achieve racial and ethnic diversity in US medical schools, such as the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Project 3000 by 2000.^1-3 Minority medical students and resident physicians in academic medical centers have few role models.⁴ Data derived from the AAMC Faculty Roster System show that only 3.9% of all faculty identify themselves as black, Native American, Mexican American, or Puerto Rican.⁵ The AAMC classifies these groups as "underrepresented" in medicine because the proportion of physicians in these groups is less than in the general population.⁶ Other minority groups, such as Asian Americans, are not classified as underrepresented.