Jerrian Reedy (left), a University of Mississippi School of Medicine student, guides Dorothy Gray, a Northside High School student from the Mississippi Delta, through an intubation exercise in a simulation lab. Gray, aspiring to a career in mental health care, participated in the University of Mississippi School of Medicine’s annual African American Visit Day in April. (Lauren Sausser for KFF Health News)
Jul 5, 2024 Story by: Editor
Mississippi, home to an estimated 1.1 million Black residents, is grappling with a significant shortage of Black doctors, with fewer than 600 in practice.
Jerrian Reedy’s journey into medicine began when he was nine years old, following a traumatic summer in 2009. His father was hospitalized in Hattiesburg after being shot three times, and Reedy was allowed to visit him in the ICU despite hospital rules against children in that area. “Just seeing him laid up in bed, in a hospital bed, it was traumatizing, to say the least,” Reedy recounted. His father died within a week, during a period when Reedy also lost an aunt and a grandmother. “They say death comes in threes,” he remarked.
These tragic events motivated Reedy to pursue a career in medicine to prevent other children from experiencing similar losses. Now, fifteen years later, Reedy has completed his first year at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. His presence is noteworthy in a state where Black individuals constitute nearly 40% of the population, yet only 10% of doctors are Black. Of the 660 students in Reedy’s program, 82, or about 12%, are Black.
Medical schools nationwide are striving to recruit Black, Hispanic, and Native American students, who remain underrepresented in medicine. Studies indicate that patients of color often prefer doctors of their own race, and some research suggests better health outcomes for Black patients treated by Black doctors.
However, recent Republican opposition threatens these efforts, potentially worsening existing health disparities. Since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to ban affirmative action in higher education, over two dozen states, including Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas, have moved to restrict or ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Anton Gunn, a healthcare consultant and former head of the Office of External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated, “I don’t expect this movement of anti-DEI legislation to slow down or stop at all. And it likely will exacerbate if Donald Trump gets the opportunity to be president of the United States again.”
Diversity Programs Under Threat
In 2023, Florida and Texas were the first to enact laws banning DEI efforts in higher education, with other states following suit. In Mississippi, Republican lawmakers introduced bills to limit DEI funding in colleges and universities. Both bills failed in committee and were not voted on in 2024.
State Sen. Angela Burks Hill argued for reallocating DEI funds to benefit all students, stating, “Qualifications should determine who gets into medical school not color or socioeconomic status. Can’t we just be happy with more highly qualified doctors no matter their skin color? I thought a color blind society was the goal.”
Nationally, DEI program bans have strong conservative backing. Jay Greene of the Heritage Foundation criticized diversity programs, citing research by Do No Harm, a conservative medical group, which refuted claims that Black doctors improve health outcomes for Black patients. He acknowledged, however, that having more Black doctors could inspire Black children to consider healthcare careers.
School administrators are closely monitoring these legislative developments. In March, the University of Florida eliminated all DEI programs, while Alabama passed a law banning DEI programs in public schools, state agencies, and universities starting October 1.
Richard deShazo, a professor at the University of Alabama’s School of Medicine, emphasized the challenges these laws present. “You cannot raise money for Black kids. You have to raise money for medical students,” he said.
A Bitter Legacy
The shortage of Black doctors is not unique to Mississippi but is prevalent across the South, where more than half of all Black Americans live and health outcomes are among the worst in the nation. Mississippi’s history of systemic racism continues to influence its healthcare workforce.
Demondes Haynes, associate dean of medical school admissions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, highlighted the deep-seated issues. “A lot of the Black physicians in the state have a bitter taste in their mouth about our medical school,” he said. The University of Mississippi did not admit Black students until the mid-1800s and only graduated its first Black physician in 1972.
Despite these historical barriers, efforts are ongoing to support prospective Black medical students. The University of Mississippi School of Medicine’s African American Visit Day aims to inspire Black students to pursue medicine. The school also offers a test prep program for underrepresented applicants who were initially rejected due to low MCAT scores.
Dan Coleman, the medical school’s outreach director, stressed the importance of encouragement. “So many students have never had someone tell them, ‘You can do this. I believe you can do this,’” he said.
For Jerrian Reedy, programs like the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s PROMISE program were pivotal. Assuring acceptance for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the program provided Reedy with the opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Source: Yahoo! News
