Medical education needs diversity and true excellence

Summary: Every year on Match Day, thousands of medical students find out where they will do their residency training. While medical schools do a great job teaching science and patient care, they often miss an important lesson: the amazing achievements of diverse medical leaders.

If you walk down the halls of most medical schools, you will mostly see portraits of white men. While some schools are finally adding more diverse portraits, hanging new pictures is not enough. Often, when medical schools talk about minorities, they only focus on health problems, struggles, and inequalities. This is a lot like how grade schools often only teach about slavery or civil rights instead of highlighting Black excellence.

Medical training needs to change. Students should learn about the great contributions and successes of doctors from all backgrounds, not just the struggles. Highlighting these achievements helps everyone feel like they belong and inspires the next generation of doctors to succeed.

Source: rssapp-kevinmd-com URL: kevinmd.com/2026/05/medical-education-needs-diversity-and-true-excellence.html (opens in new tab)