Study: Black medical students more confident at HBCUs

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A new study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine in July found that Black medical students at historically Black colleges and universities feel more confident in their academic abilities and had a greater sense of belonging than their peers at predominantly white institutions.  The study also found that medical students at HBCUs also felt more self-assured that they would be accepted to a top 10 residency program.
 
Researchers from multiple universities surveyed participants three times during their second year of medical school.
 
Sylvia Perry, the study’s senior researcher and an associate professor of psychology at Northwestern University, said Black medical students at predominantly white institutions “may experience greater everyday discrimination relative to their HBCU peers that leads to reduced perceptions of their ability to succeed within medical school.”
 
“We believe that it is important for predominantly white institutions to signal a commitment and make efforts to increase diversity among trainees and faculty,” Perry added.
 
“Simply increasing the number of students and faculty of color is not enough,” she added. “These institutions should also focus on increasing underrepresented medical students’ sense of belonging by making the reduction of bias and discrimination explicit priorities. Medical schools must create an environment in which all students can thrive and feel safe.”
 
The study builds upon Perry’s past research that determined Black STEM students at PWIs report struggles with creating an inclusive campus climate, whereas HBCU students perceive STEM disciplines to be diverse and view their institutions as supportive.
 
Currently there are four medical schools at HBCUs --Howard, Meharry, Morehouse, and Charles R. Drew U—with two more at Morgan State and Xavier in Louisiana planning to open soon.