Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling: Impacts on ID educational quality & access

In the final post of their two-part series, the authors explore how the court's decision will affect the quality of, and access to, ID medical education. They also offer insights on taking action as well as resources for those who want to learn more. Don't miss the first installment, which explored impacts on the ID workforce and health equity.

As ID academic clinicians, we would be remiss if we did not express our deep concern for the continued education and training of ID practitioners because of the Supreme Court's decision, which rejected affirmative action in college admissions. Most prominently, the lack of representation of racially diverse ID clinicians will have an impact on the recruitment of trainees from underrepresented backgrounds. Ultimately, the lack of underrepresented voices and experiences at the decision-making tables will likely result in a reduction of targeted recruitment efforts and financial aid support for minoritized aspirants. Without this added support, there will inevitably be a continued economic gap between those accepted into medical professional programs compared to those not.

Of note, decreasing diversity among ID academicians could also lead to a decline in or complete removal of education focused on health equity. Individuals with community ties often contribute significantly to the development of content related to promoting equitable health care access and the overall improvement of underserved communities. The absence of diversity within health care academia can perpetuate the underdevelopment of these crucial skills and hinder the overall growth and progress of trainees. Moreover, it is essential that we recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences in health care, as racial representation provides a platform for community and support during professional training. Without it, trainees are left to navigate difficult — and in some cases racialized — experiences on their own.

Call to action: What you can do

While the Supreme Court’s ruling is nothing short of disappointing, programs have shown that we can still achieve diversity and strive for inclusivity in a post-affirmative action world. California adopted its affirmative action ban in 1996; however, UC Davis is listed among one of the nation’s most diverse medical schools, directly following two minority-serving institutions. With perhaps one of the most U.S. demographic-concordant enrollments, the 133-member class of 2026 is 14% Black, 30% Hispanic and 3% American Indian/Alaska Native; 84% of these students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The success has been attributed to the school pushing back against concerns about its ranking or reputation and instead focusing on addressing barriers like MCAT scores and others that may prohibit the recruitment of minority individuals. 

As UC Davis shows, success is possible, even in face of obstacles, and we call for the ID community to take action. Lend your expertise and support to academic institutions seeking guidance on alternative criteria to consider during the medical school application process to help advance their inclusion, diversity, access and equity goals. Your voice and actions can make a difference.

Resources

·       Race-Conscious Admissions in Medical Education (Association of American Medical Colleges)

·        Statement on Supreme Court Affirmative Action Ruling (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy)

·        Racial Diversity in the Medical Profession: The Impact of Affirmative Action Bans on Underrepresented Student of Color Matriculation in Medical Schools (The Journal of Higher Education)

·        What the Supreme Court’s Expected Ruling on Affirmative Action Might Mean for U.S. Health Care (Bill of Health blog)

·        When Medical Schools Become Less Diverse (Atlantic)

·        How One Medical School Became Remarkably Diverse — Without Considering Race in Admissions (STAT News)

Don't miss the authors' first post in this series on the effects of the court's decision. Please share with IDSA your stories on how diversity impacts health care in the field of ID. Some of these may be featured in future blog posts or in other communications channels as part of the Society’s ongoing inclusion, diversity, access and equity efforts.