Graduate Medical Education

Abstract

Inadequate representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities (URMs) in Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs helps perpetuate growing poor respiratory health outcomes in underserved communities. The barriers that lead to racial and ethnic gaps in GME programs are a downstream result of fractured educational programs that prepare students from URM groups to matriculate into medical education programs. Challenges in the matriculation of UMRs into majors in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) result in the subsequent shortage of URMs in GME programs equipped to address respiratory health disparities, which then leads to inadequate diversity in the physician workforce in pulmonary and critical care medicine, a contributory factor to respiratory health disparities. Multifaceted and comprehensive approaches, encompassing all stages of education and career development, are needed to ensure adequate representation of URMs in GME programs. A diverse workforce in pediatric and adult training programs in pulmonary and critical care medicine is an essential step to achieve respiratory health equity in the United States.