Medical schools are becoming more diverse

A decade after diversity standards were put in place, medical schools across the U.S. are accepting more women and minority students, according to a new analysis. In 2009, a committee that accredits medical schools started requiring schools to develop a diversity policy and carry out efforts to recruit and retain a broader range of students. Researchers dug into the data on graduates of accredited medical schools from 2002 to 2017 and found that over time, the proportion of women, black, and Hispanic graduates increased. It's not clear whether the policy changes directly drove those increases, but the study's authors say they're encouraged by the finding. "While the results are promising, disparities in physician workforce diversity persist," they write.