Utah sees decline in enrollment of Black med students
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The number of enrolled first-year Black medical students has dropped in Utah since the 2018-2019 academic year and has yet to rebound, new data shows.
Why it matters: Having doctors who resemble the patients they serve can improve health outcomes and enable patients to feel more comfortable voicing health concerns, multiple studies suggest.
The big picture: Black patients being treated by Black doctors may experience less medical racism, whether that means better treatment in the emergency room or not having pain or other risk factors dismissed.
- "Having Black physicians is good for everybody's health," says Norma Poll-Hunter, senior director of the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) human capital portfolio.
- The COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately impacted people of color, also highlighted the importance of culturally competent medical care.
By the numbers: Utah contains one of the smallest shares of Black residents compared with the rest of the nation, with African Americans making up about 2% of the state population, per census data. More than half of Utah's Black population resides in Salt Lake County.
- Only Idaho, Wyoming and Montana have smaller percentages of Black residents.
Yes, but: Utah's Black population increased nearly 90% between 2010 and 2023, according to the Pew Research Center.
By the numbers: In Utah, medical school enrollment of Black students has declined since 2018-2019, when they accounted for 3.4% of medical students, according to the AAMC.
- That academic year saw the state's highest enrollment of Black medical students since AAMC started collecting data on this topic in 1978.
- In 2024-2025, they made up 1.1%.
Zoom out: Nationally, only 5% of doctors in America are Black — compared with 14% of the general population.
- Between the lines: The data accounts for students who identified as Black or African American.
What we're watching: Utah passed a law last year banning diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives in higher education, and it's unclear how the new measure will impact enrollment rates in the future.
- Since then, the University of Utah has eliminated all of its cultural centers — including resource centers for Black students.
What they're saying: Richard Ferguson, founder and president of the Black Physicians of Utah, told Axios his group is trying to normalize seeing Black people in the medical field, especially among youth.
- He estimates there are about 40 Black doctors in the state.
- "I'm trying to increase our numbers through mentorship, programming, scholarship, awareness events — but its taken a little while to move the needle," he told Axios.