Doctors applaud call for diversity
We read with interest Dr. Susman’s editorial (Who should be admitted to medical school? J Fam Pract. 2011;60:179). It is refreshing to have a medical school dean recognize that medical board scores have never been correlated to practice performance and that multiple choice exams have nothing to do with success in daily practice. Further, we applaud Dr. Susman for recognizing and pursuing diversity as a goal in medical school education. It is well documented that medical students of color or students raised in urban, inner city, or rural communities are more likely to practice in underserved communities.1 As physicians in the US Navy, we experience the benefits of a diverse patient population and diverse medical corps daily.
We think it important to clarify that the primary stewardship role of a medical school is to train well-rounded physicians who are prepared to practice in any setting—ie, to identify and train people who will be good doctors. Diversity is a necessary and beneficial contribution to good medicine after the primary goal is met.
Robert P. Lennon, MD, JD, LT, MC, USN; Nadine
Tassin, MD, LT, MC, USN; Vanessa McNair, MD, MPH*
Jacksonville, Fla
*The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government, Department of the Navy, or Department of Defense.
