APIAHF Comments on Medical School Definition of "Underserved Minority"
In a continuing effort to examine the definition of "Underrepresented Minority (URM)" for the purposes of collecting data and measuring progress on the underrepresentation issue, developing outreach and recruitment activities, and facilitating dialogue about diversity within medical schools, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recently released the Discussion Document and Alternative Policy Option. (See www.aamc.org/meded/urm/start.htm.) The outlined Alternative Policy Option in this document was a result of examining numerous comments, including those of APIAHF, to an earlier set of options for a URM definition. It proposes to change the definition of URM to "Underrepresented in Medicine" and would include racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population. Further it would allow medical schools to determine their own institutional definitions of underrepresented. APIAHF submitted comments on the need for a national standard, disaggregation of AAPI data, and the consideration of other factors such as language.
For more information, contact the APIAHF Policy Division staff:
Gem Daus, Legislative and Government Affairs Coordinator, GDaus@apiahf.org
