UMass Med School Seeks More Diversity

This article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Wednesday describes a combined undergraduate-medical degree program aimed at increasing diversity in the medical population. This is likely to be a very controversial move for the University, as those in opposition express concern that under-represented minorities will be accepted to medical school simply on the basis of race rather than academic merit. On the other hand, supporters of the program provide extensive evidence of the need for a more diverse medical workforce. For example, the article states that research suggests that "minority patients tend to have better health outcomes when they are treated by minority physicians". Given the increased debate over healthcare, and the fact that the vast majority of Massachusetts doctors are white (according to the chart in the article), there are important social implications as a result of this proposed combined degree program.