FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 24, 2013
Sterling, VA – The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation’s largest independent medical student organization, is disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher vs. University of Texas-Austin. In a 7-1 ruling, the Court sent the case back to the lower court (Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals) for reconsideration. While the Court reaffirmed that ensuring student body diversity is a compelling state interest, it ruled that race-conscious admissions policies are only permissible if no “available, workable race-neutral” alternatives exist. This decision raises the standard of review for affirmative action policies at all colleges and universities, including medical schools.
“Equality in education extends beyond individual students to society as a whole,” says Dr. Nida Degesys, AMSA national president. “Our organization supports medical schools that have adopted holistic admissions policies to evaluate applicants comprehensively and serve diverse patient populations.”
Studies show that physicians who understand their patients’ cultural backgrounds make more informed decisions and improve patient compliance, leading to better health outcomes. A holistic admissions review ensures that an applicant’s strengths, experiences, background, and achievements are all considered during the selection process.
Reducing admissions criteria to strictly academic measures, such as test scores, would undermine efforts to address health disparities among minority populations. Many factors must be taken into account when shaping the future physician workforce. The United States is more diverse than ever, and a long history of government and legal support for pluralism in higher education has played a key role in fostering that diversity.
AMSA believes that achieving equal minority representation requires U.S. medical schools to work toward graduating a student body that reflects the broader population. By fostering diversity in medical school admissions, we strengthen both the health care system and the overall well-being of society.
About the American Medical Student Association
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at www.amsa.org.