High court supports race-conscious school admission policies

The American Medical Association (AMA) applauds today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin affirming diversity as a compelling interest in education. The ruling in favor of considering race as one factor in academic admission policies allows medical schools to take a more active role against racial disparities in health outcomes by helping create a more racially and ethnically diverse physician workforce.

"The AMA supports efforts to bring an end to any inequalities in health care and has twice joined in amicus filings with other health care organizations urging the high court to uphold medical school admission policies that consider race, ethnicity and gender as one factor among an applicant's many personal attributes," said AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. "The goal of increasing medical career opportunities for minorities is an important step in developing a diverse physician workforce that will help bridge the gap in racial health disparities."