Despite long-standing efforts to increase health care workforce diversity and evidence that a representative health care workforce improves health care access and outcomes, limited progress has been made to increase the number of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx medical and nursing professionals and to retain them in the workforce. Drawing from interviews and focus groups with dozens of students, professionals, and field leaders, this study examines the persistent barriers and challenges facing aspiring doctors and nurses from systemically and structurally excluded groups and proposes recommended actions that federal and state policymakers, leaders at higher education and health system institutions, and philanthropies can take to support these students and professionals, particularly through the expanded and improved use of pathway programs. This report is accompanied by three summaries of findings and recommendations for key audiences:
Summary for state and federal policymakers
Summary for higher education and healthcare system institutions
This study relates to a broader body of work at Urban on diversifying the health care workforce. Preliminary findings from the study were previously published in two Powerpoint presentations: Supporting a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Nursing Workforce and Growing and Supporting Diverse Nursing and Medical Workforces in California
