The Role of Historically Black College and University Medical Schools in Academic Medicine

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2017;28(1):266-278. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2017.0022.

Abstract

Introduction: Although less than 3% of medical schools are considered Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), they have played a significant role in the education of Black physicians.

Methods: The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) databases were used to obtain faculty and student demographic data from 2003-2013. We analyzed racial distributions of faculty and students at HBCU medical schools compared with all other medical schools and calculated correlations between rates of Black chairs, faculty, and students.

Results: Although HBCUs represent 2.4% of medical colleges, they house 31% of Black chairs, 10% of Black faculty and 14% of Black students. A significant (a* < .002) positive correlation was found between rates of Black chairs and students.

Conclusions: Black chairs are associated with higher percentages of Black students. Medical colleges may find that increasing the number of Black chairs increases the number of Black medical students.

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Faculty, Medical / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Schools, Medical / statistics & numerical data*
  • Students, Medical / statistics & numerical data*