The Impact of Efforts to Increase Racial and Ethnicity Diversity in the Health Professions

• In Event: 34.095 - MTCC Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: 34.095-4 - Continued Efforts to Diversify the Health Professions: From Educational Pipelines to Professional Practice

Abstract

Racial and ethnic diversity in the health workforce is important to facilitating access to healthcare for under-served populations and meet the health needs of an increasingly diverse population. The goals of this study were: (1) to explore how the racial and ethnic diversity of the health workforce has changed over the last decade and (2) to explore the state of evidence on the effectiveness of pipeline programs that seek to promote racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions.

To explore changes in the racial and ethnic diversity of the health workforce we used data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to examine changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the health workforce over a ten-year period. To provide annual rates of change in race and ethnic representation in each occupation over this 10-year period we ran separate regression models of each racial and ethnic group by occupation. To explore the state of evidence on the effectiveness of pipeline programs we reviewed recent literature on the effectiveness of educational pipeline programs aimed at recruiting and retaining people of color into the health workforce.

Findings suggest that although the health workforce overall is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, people of color are most often represented among the entry level, lower-skilled health occupations. Promising practices to help facilitate diversity in the health professions were identified in the literature, including: targeted recruitment and revised admissions policies, curriculum changes, summer enrichment programs, and comprehensive programs that integrate multiple interventions such as financial support, academic support, and social support. While some efforts have been found to be promising in increasing the interest, application, and enrollment of people of color into health profession schools, there is still a missing link in understanding persistence, graduation, and careers.

This study holds implications for how educational institutions and healthcare organizations can work together to design programs to recruit and retain a racially diverse health workforce. Findings can also inform the development of innovative programs to help facilitate the professional development of people of color in entry-level healthcare occupations into more advanced healthcare careers. Additionally, this study highlights the need for more and better evaluation of programs and efforts designed to enhance the diversity in the health professions.

Author

• Cyndy Snyder