Only in the U.S. are Black Americans, yet Black Americans of the U.S. population. Looking back, we see the percentage of Black radiologists is at its lowest in the last 10 years -- down by about 0.5% over the last 10 years. Why is this problematic? Because it matters for patient health and wellbeing. A shows that patients feel more comfortable and experience less anxiety when treated by physicians of their race.
This situation has made me wonder: Is there an opportunity to promote diversity in the field of medicine I love? What can I do to inspire more young Black Americans to become radiologists?
The opportunity is absolutely there. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), enrollment of Black students from 2020 to 2021. A combination of factors played a role in this historic uptick of Black medical school students:
- COVID-19 and its dramatic effect on Black communities
- Medical schools looking beyond test scores
- Medical schools waiving application fees
- Allowing more applicants to interview remotely
- Schools looking at the role of unconscious bias in admissions
But, moving beyond greater diversity in medical schools, how can we actually go about encouraging these Black students to become radiologists?
Increasing the number of Black radiologists will require an investment of my time and my willingness to communicate the happiness and professional fulfillment my profession brings me. I can't just write about diversity, and a tweet here or there isn't sufficient either. I have to put my shoes on the ground and be seen and heard, and I must volunteer to speak at "Career Days" in schools where Black students are the majority.
My Black colleagues play a role too. We need to be seen and heard on medical school campuses -- we need to attend student events when we're invited and serve on advisory boards. We can reach out to attend Student National Medical Association meetings, particularly those hosted by Black medical student clubs and associations. is critical to teaching them about radiology. Perhaps several colleagues could partner to provide a scholarship or grant to attend a regional radiology conference.
We also need to better understand student priorities, and then dispel certain myths about radiology as a profession. that URM medical students deem patient contact as one of their top priorities, along with patient education, exercising social responsibility, and making a difference. But many medical students don't understand the impact of radiology on patient care, or they believe radiologists don't perform procedures or interact with patients.
We need to help medical students understand the that radiology impacts patient care -- radiology is often one of the most critical parts of a diagnosis. We work with a wide variety of physicians who come from all walks of life. Yet, we don't have to face the painful task of delivering bad news to patients.
Many URM medical students may not realize they may also have patient interaction depending on the radiology subspecialty. Radiologists don't just focus on one part of the body -- they must know every organ. Radiologists help perform minimally invasive biopsy procedures and may be the physician that confirms cancer in the breast, lungs, or prostate. Radiologists often play a pivotal role in oncology -- treating patients with brain, breast, head and neck, lung, rectal, and urological cancers.
And lastly, we as Black physicians must be willing to give back -- that is, we must consider actively mentoring a URM undergraduate student who is applying to medical school. About half of undergraduate students are URM; more than a quarter of first generation students report family incomes of less than $20,000/annually; and nearly 50% of first generation students are not U.S. citizens. Clearly, all of these students face obstacles, including:
- Paying for college and medical school
- Understanding the educational process
- Fitting in and finding support to help them reach their goals
- Seeing similar students from similar backgrounds
- Lack of cultural support
A by two Stanford emergency medicine physicians reveals that the relative number of Black and Latino residents has remained stagnant. One of the authors of the study, Maame Yaa Yiadom, MD, postulates, "Students of color are often not able to find mentors who can guide and support them. There is more to learning and being successful than what one can find in a textbook or on a board exam."
On average, medical students finish their education with more than . Many URM students are overwhelmed by the enormous debt and never apply. Lowering the cost of medical school and granting scholarships based on need are also important ways to increase diversity in the medical field, including radiology.
A new and larger generation of medical students is here. Let us all reach toward achieving diversity in radiology. Team up with others who share the goal of diversity to inspire, encourage, and mentor young Black Americans to choose radiology.
Kwabena Yeboah, MD, is a radiologist in Dallas. He completed medical school at Medical College of Wisconsin, radiology residency at SUNY Upstate Medical Center and Integris Baptist Medical Center, and fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at the University of Maryland.