How Should Medical School Admissions Drive Health Care Workforce Diversity?

Abstract

Over the past decade, holistic review has been implemented to motivate schools’ compliance with state and federal laws about how to regard race in admissions processes and decisions. From clinical, ethical, and public health standpoints, physician workforce diversification is widely regarded as foundational to medicine’s capacity as a profession to respond justly to the health care needs of a pluralistic nation. In response to a case, this commentary considers merits and limitations of holistic review’s roles in advancing health professional workforce diversity and health equity.