AV on Health: The Shortage of Black Doctors

In 1986, 57% of African American medical school graduates were Black men - by 2015 that number was down to 35%. And while there are more African American female graduates, even their numbers could be higher. What is discouraging Black students from becoming doctors? What will a shortage of Black doctors mean for the healthcare of the African American community? What are medical schools doing to recruit and retain African American students? We talk about the shortage of Black doctors with Alvin Harris, M.D., an internal medicine specialist; Thomas Kimble, M.D., Associate Dean of Admissions and Enrollment at EVMS; LaKeisha Majette, a first year medical student; and our co-host for Another View on Health, cardiologist Dr. Keith Newby.