A new design for recruitment of blacks into health careers.

Abstract

MORE and more concern is being expressed today about the underrepresentation of blacks in health careers. Traditionally, their roles have been at the bottom of the occupational ladder with little opportunity for professional training and advancement. The assigned topic-A New Design for Recruitment of Blacks Into Health Careers suggests an honest attempt to recognize and deal with one of the major problems of health care in the central cities and the Black South. This is not to say that other minority groups do not suffer a similar problem; but reduced to its simplest terms, blacks constitute the largest human element of the contemporary ghetto. To a major degree, their high visibility-and other means of ready identification account for the social and economic inequities they suffer, and very often for the insurmountable obstacles encountered in attempting to enter the mainstream of American life. The problem is further exacerbated by a relative lack of awareness and understanding of black ghetto residents, and an appalling inadequacy of national priorities directed toward their benefit. Their medical and dental problems are inextricably intertwined with economical, sociologic, environinental and political factors. So, any sinicere attempt to alleviate the health crisis in the ghetto must recognize the need for appropriate priorities and commitments that would address themselves to the peculiar needs of our largest minority group. The discussion will deal with the critical dental and medical manpower shortage in the ghettos and some of the underlying causes, and how recruitment of indigenous personnel might be accomplished, and the needed support of government and the health professions for this purpose.