M Inorities in the

Abstract

There is an imbalance in the makeup of the nations physicians, dentists, and nurses. This imbalance contributes to the gap in health status and the impaired access to health care experienced by a significant portion of our population. The Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce finds that African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and certain segments of the nations Asian/Pacific Islander population are not present in significant numbers. Rather, they are missing! While some outstanding physicians, dentists, and nurses are minorities, access to a health professions career remains largely separate and unequal. This report, Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions, examines the root causes of this challenge and provides detailed recommendations on how to increase the representation of minorities in the nations medical, dental, and nursing workforce.