diversity in health care essay

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The Importance of Diversity in Health Care: Medical Professionals Weigh In

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To provide the best possible care for all patients and help minimize racial disparities, medical professionals need to acknowledge and recognize differences among varying populations. Diversity among physicians—pertaining to socioeconomic status, race, gender identity, and so on—is key. Many physicians already recognize that a commitment to diversity is critical, yet there is still progress to be made.

To learn more about diversity in health care from the inside out, take a look at what some physicians have to say on the topic.

Exploring diversity in medicine so far

By looking at the statistics in the chart below, the medical field is still primarily white males with a smaller contingent of of females and other ethnic groups. It’s pretty clear that the medical field has a long way to go.

“Diversity in Medicine: Facts and Figures 2019” from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) touches on gender distribution among doctors , revealing that nearly two-thirds of physicians are male. However, that figure may even out over time. AAMC data comparing applicants and enrolled medical students by sex shows that females now outnumber males in US medical schools.

The same report also includes a breakdown of active physicians by race and ethnicity , which shows that more than half of practicing physicians are white, 17 percent are Asian, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 5 percent are Black. This is something that comes as no surprise to Dr. Antonio Webb, an orthopedic spine surgeon, who notes that one AAMC report found there were fewer Black male medical students in 2014 than there were in 1978. He says that when he was a child, he didn’t know any doctors who looked like him.

“My parents weren’t physicians, and I didn’t really have any mentors,” he recalls. “I kind of carved my own path—there was no YouTube back then.”

Additionally, the majority of medical students come from affluent, higher socioeconomic status backgrounds. According to An Updated Look at the Economic Diversity of U.S. Medical Students from the AAMC, more than 75 percent of medical students are from families who are in the top two quintiles for household income as identified by US census data.

While research on sexual and gender orientation as well as religious affiliation among physicians is limited, diversity in these realms is also important for developing good bedside manner and providing quality care.

How diversity in health care benefits patients

A lack of diversity in the workforce limits the capabilities of medicine, containing it within a single ethnic lens and a particular set of values. The medical workforce should instead reflect the variety of patients for which they provide care.

“It is important for physicians to be diverse in large part because our patients are diverse,” explains Dr. Lisa Doggett, a family physician. “If we can understand our patients’ belief systems and values, we will be able to provide better care for them.”

For instance, patients’ religious beliefs can similarly affect the quality of care they receive. A recent paper on cultural competence in medicine reveals the many ways in which an individual’s beliefs can affect them as a patient. Additionally, the medical research community acknowledges that health disparities among LGTBQ individuals are a significant issue. Just consider this reflection from one transgender patient.

“The more diverse the people are who provide medical care, the better they can respectfully and knowledgeably assist their patients.”

“As a transgender person, it’s very difficult to access health care with competent providers knowledgeable about transgender health care,” explains Jordan Rubenstein of Ellevest . “The more diverse the people are who provide medical care, the better they can respectfully and knowledgeably assist their patients.”

A diverse group of SGU medical students recite an oath as part of the White Coat Ceremony, which celebrates the start of their physician journeys.

When a patient cannot find providers that resemble them, their beliefs, their culture, or other facets of their life, they run the risk of not being understood or being able to receive the appropriate treatment. One clear example of this is the extreme divide in health outcomes for expecting mothers based on race. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals Black and native women are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy complications than white women.

A more diverse physician workforce also makes needed care more accessible to patients who might otherwise be overlooked—research on primary care physician distribution shows that practitioners who are from minority racial and ethnic groups are much more likely to work in underserved communities than their white counterparts.

How diversity in health care benefits providers

Physicians themselves could enjoy a better quality of life as a result of a more diverse health care workforce. Doctors who are part of an underrepresented group are often able to build incredibly strong relationships with the minority individuals they serve.

“I find that I can better relate to my patients,” Dr. Webb says.

Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy, a UK-based primary care physician at DoctorSpring , notes there are other benefits to working with people from a variety of backgrounds as well. “Diversity in the workplace, in my opinion, fosters a greater sense of identity and culture, making me feel better and more rewarded at work,” he says.

This diversity can go a long way toward improving morale and reminding physicians why they became doctors in the first place. It also encourages physicians to expand their horizons.

“We run the risk of becoming shortsighted or boxed in to a particular way of thinking when everyone is the same,” Dr. Doggett explains. “We lose a certain richness and opportunity to learn from one another. We, as individual clinicians, are certainly affected when there is a lack of diversity, but our patients are impacted even more.”

Diversity in health care starts at the beginning

To truly work toward a more diverse, more equitable health care system, it’s critical to reach potential physicians as early as possible. “There should be more of a focus on exposing kids to careers in medicine,” Dr. Webb says, who is actively involved in this effort through his video interview series . “Hospitals and schools can create more pipeline programs,” he adds.

Additionally, diversity efforts must continue into medical school , which can be achieved through a more holistic admissions process. When classes are more diverse, all students benefit from broadened perspectives. Diverse classrooms help students improve active thinking, intellectual engagement, social skills, empathy, and racial understanding—all critical components to a physician’s education. Research even shows that cross-cultural interactions during medical school help students feel better prepared to serve diverse populations later on.

“Doctors are required to be competent not only in medicine but also in communication and caring for people with different disease burdens, socio-cultural realities, expectations, values, and beliefs,” explains  Dr. Satesh Bidaisee , a professor of public health and preventive medicine and assistant dean for the School of Graduate Studies at St. George’s University. “Doctors of today need a global competence to understand the diverse populations they serve.” He feels it’s the responsibility of medical schools to provide this competence for students, who in turn will provide nuanced care for patients of all walks of life.

Diversity in health care matters

Diversity in health care helps ensure all backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, and perspectives are adequately represented in the medical field. It’s about providing the best possible care for all patients.

If you’re interested in a career in medicine and want to gain an edge with a global perspective, then learn more by reading our article, “ 6 Little-Known Perks of Attending an International Medical School .”

*This article was originally published in December 2018. It has since been updated to reflect information relevant to 2021.

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1 Data as of October 2024.

2 Average of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 residency placement rates. Residency placement rate is defined as the total number of students/graduates who obtained a US residency divided by the total number of students/graduates who applied to a US residency program in a given year as of October 2024.

3 Total results from the five calendar years 2019-2023. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of US students (US citizens/permanent residents) passing USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of US students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time within the given time range. In order to be certified to take USMLE Step 1, students are required to pass all basic sciences courses.

4 Total results from the five academic years 2020-2024. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of Canadian students passing USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of Canadian students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time. USMLE Step 2 CK is typically taken upon completion of third-year core clinical rotations

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Why Is Diversity Important in Healthcare?

Are you questioning why is diversity important in healthcare? Learn about the benefits of healthcare diversity and how to promote it.

Diversity is important for delivering effective healthcare. Research shows that patients are more likely to trust healthcare providers who reflect their own backgrounds. This trust leads to better communication and a higher likelihood that patients will follow their treatment plans, ultimately resulting in improved health outcomes.

Diversity in healthcare provides high-quality care for everyone by acknowledging and respecting diverse cultures, religious beliefs, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. It also empowers every patient and healthcare professional to have a voice in the type of care they receive and need.

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Understanding Cultural Competence in Healthcare

While recognizing our differences is important, practicing cultural competence in healthcare is a priority. Mirroring the demographics of the community you serve can increase workplace morale and enhance the quality of care provided.

Hire employees from different backgrounds to ensure that every visitor to your facility can be treated by someone they identify with and can communicate easily with. This diversity fosters creative solutions and effective problem-solving.

What Is Diversity in Healthcare?

People from all races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, genders, and ages require different medical care. Supporting diversity in healthcare leads to the ability to offer medical services that meet the specific needs of each patient. The more patients feel understood and represented, the better the care and outcomes they receive.

Benefits of Healthcare Diversity

Diversity in the workplace offers many benefits for all workplaces, including healthcare. These benefits include:

Boosted Morale: Create a sense of inclusion and belonging that makes your workplace more enjoyable.
Better Care: Hire a diverse team. This allows everyone who walks through your door to receive care from someone they feel comfortable with.
Higher Retention: Foster a positive work culture that values happy employees. The happier healthcare workers feel, the longer they will want to stay.
Improved Recruitment: Commit to making your healthcare workplace more diverse by recruiting new talent with the same DEI mindset.

How to Best Promote Diversity in Healthcare

While HR departments carry most of the responsibility for establishing diversity, healthcare workers can also contribute significantly.

Create an Accepting and Welcoming Work Environment

Establish a positive work culture where all voices are heard and respected and coworkers feel safe sharing their unique perspectives.

Address Bias Openly

Support your staff by having an open-door policy where employees can freely share their experiences. Victims of discrimination or bias don’t want to come forward for fear of retaliation. Supporting coworkers who experience this and being transparent about incidents helps create this safe place too.

Have Inclusive Job Descriptions

Encourage diverse applicants for your healthcare jobs by writing inclusive job descriptions that include your company’s mission statement and DEI commitment.

Participate in Diversity Training

Building diversity training requirements into your hiring and HR departments. Diversity training increases understanding, teaches staff how to respond to these differences, identifies bias, discrimination, or other workplace barriers, and improves communication.

Try Healthcare DEI Training Today

If you’re questioning why is diversity important in healthcare, our Healthcare DEI Training can help you and your team with factors you should consider for your workplace. Ensuring your healthcare team reflects diverse backgrounds can significantly improve patient care.

Discover more with our Healthcare Calendar 2024 and Healthcare Calendar 2025 for healthcare events , health awareness months, and healthcare observances all year long. Our Healthcare Diversity Training can empower your staff and help you create an inclusive workplace that supports diversity and inclusion. Read about medical awareness months 2024 for more education.

Why is diversity in healthcare important?

Promoting diversity in health care is vital as it offers countless patient benefits, including improved and optimized care, reduced care disparities, and improved access to care. This is especially important for adults who, because of their age, illness, or disability, cannot entirely independently take care of themselves.

Why is promoting diversity important in health and social care?

Good equality and diversity practices help ensure that access to services is fair and accessible to all. They treat all people as equals and focus on giving patients the dignity and respect they deserve with customized care. Cultural competence includes attitudes and policies that promote equitable services in healthcare facilities.

Why is cultural diversity in healthcare crucial?

Cultural respect helps reduce health disparities by improving access to high-quality healthcare and social care services. It is respectful of the needs of diverse patients. It can accurately and steadfastly treat people with all conditions and disorders to have a good quality of life while managing their health conditions.