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Did you know that according to 2020 census, 14.2% of the United States population is Black, but Black physicians account for only 5% of the active physician workforce and 3.6% of full-time medical school faculty?

Did you know that while 18.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, Latinx physicians account for only 5.8% of the active physician workforce and 3.2% of full time medical school faculty?

Did you know that 2.9% of the United States population is American Indian, but American Indians account for only 0.3% of the active physician workforce and 0.2% of full-time medical school faculty?

While medicine has made some gains over the past few decades towards diversifying, these recent statistics demonstrate that there is more work to do.

But why is there underrepresentation of American Indian, Black & Hispanic people in the healthcare provider workforce?

• There is a Leaky educational pipeline into medicine
• There are decreased opportunities to advance within medicine
• There is increased attrition from medicine at the medical school, residency and faculty levels

Although not a panacea, mentoring is practical strategy to diversify medicine.