How much of an effect does being URM do for an application?

[chemmed123]

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So I read the thread dealing with chances for minoritys based on graphs, but I wanna know more about who views the URM policy. The page is here just for convenience, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=12108119#post12108119.

So as a Latino, which schools would view the URM as a bigger effect as others. To elaborate, do certain schools, like lower tier, look for more diverse applicants than top tier, or vice versa? I want to hear other people's views on this.

Also, this wasn't included in the topic, but to throw it out there; if I am a low income student going for undergrad on full FA, how would it would like for me in terms of students costs and loans when I come out of med school? Obviously it depends on the school, but I'm not sure how FA works in med schools generally.

 

[mechengmed]

Hopefully there is no advantage because I am a white male and it's BS that someone should have lower standards because of their race.

 

[kpcrew]

Hopefully there is no advantage because I am a white male and it's BS that someone should have lower standards because of their race.

You're in for a surprise.

 

[WorldChanger36]

So I read the thread dealing with chances for minoritys based on graphs, but I wanna know more about who views the URM policy. The page is here just for convenience, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=12108119#post12108119.

So as a Latino, which schools would view the URM as a bigger effect as others. To elaborate, do certain schools, like lower tier, look for more diverse applicants than top tier, or vice versa? I want to hear other people's views on this.

Also, this wasn't included in the topic, but to throw it out there; if I am a low income student going for undergrad on full FA, how would it would like for me in terms of students costs and loans when I come out of med school? Obviously it depends on the school, but I'm not sure how FA works in med schools generally.

Depends one your Story.... When you apply as a URM the focus seems to shift from your stats to your life story and how you can improve those lives around you and in your community by becoming a doctor. Now this will not completely make up for bad grades however it does increase your chances significantly ( if you story is good) and it becomes a whole new ball game. It is like the MSAR doesn't apply to you and you could get interviews at schools I would never dream of getting interviews at. IF you are a community focused person, which I hope you are, you will have a great shot. I am glad schools can look past a persons grades and scores and understand a disadvantaged status.

 

[0919mmk]

Hopefully there is no advantage because I am a white male and it's BS that someone should have lower standards because of their race.

 

[BecksTriad]

Hopefully there is no advantage because I am a white male and it's BS that someone should have lower standards because of their race.

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. seriously tho. you're in for a rude surprise. just look at the stats for URMs compared to non-URMs. If I was black, statistically speaking, my chances of being accepted to med school would go from ~65% to ~90%.

 

[SpecterGT260]

just compare
URM
https://www.aamc.org/download/157590/data/table25-hbn-mcatgpa-grid-3race.pdf

White
https://www.aamc.org/download/157958/data/table25-mcatgpa-grid-white-0911.pdf

Asian
https://www.aamc.org/download/157598/data/table25-a-mcatgpa-grid-asian.pdf

The asian data is skewed because real asians are incapable of <3.8 GPA and <39 MCAT so take those areas of the grid with a grain of salt

 

[mechengmed]

You're in for a surprise.

Iol I know that there is an advantage to being anything but white male but I think that is completely ******ed. There should be no reason to take less qualified people because of skin color. I wonder if this trend will continue in ~2040 when whites are projected to no longer be the majority.

 

[0919mmk]

Iol I know that there is an advantage to being anything but white male but I think that is completely ******ed. There should be no reason to take less qualified people because of skin color. I wonder if this trend will continue in ~2040 when whites are projected to no longer be the majority.

Hi, you must be new around here.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are just ignorant, and not a troll or racist. How do I explain this is one sentence... here goes.

The "URM advantage" has nothing to do with skin color, but rather the historical and present socioeconomical DISadvantage that the AVERAGE person of color experiences compared to the average white male. The URM advantage is a civilized society's attempt to correct for the disadvantage, and while it is not perfect, it is better than nothing.

OK that was 2 sentences. I don't mean to belittle your opinion, but, you know, you're just wrong.

 

[TipToad]

I think the consensus is that being URM does have a significant effect on an application, but the amount of people getting this advantage is overestimated. Having URM students in medical school is a good thing.

 

[FattySlug]

This thread is derailed so quickly. I think med school admissions should be purely based on merits while taking account for socioeconomic disadvantaged. There are white ppl who are disadvantaged and there are black ppl who are rich.

However I don't understand why college and med school admission, to a lesser degree, set the bar higher for Asians than any other race. They try to keep out the Asians from being overrepresented but the concept of overrepresentation is a racist concept. If the patients only like to see doctors of certain race then they are the racist ones and we should be combating racism instead of giving in.

 

[SpecterGT260]

how did it derail?

 

[LizzyM]

To be accredited as a US medical school, a school must meet certain standards: http://www.lcme.org/standard.htm

One of the criteria is as follows:

MS-8. A medical education program must develop programs or partnerships aimed at broadening diversity among qualified applicants for medical school admission.
Because graduates of U.S. and Canadian medical schools may practice anywhere in their respective countries, it is expected that an institution that offers a medical education program will recognize its collective responsibility for contributing to the diversity of the profession as a whole. To that end, a medical education program should work within its own institutions and/or collaborate with other institutions to make admission to medical education programs more accessible to potential applicants of diverse backgrounds. Institutions can accomplish that aim through a variety of approaches, including, but not limited to, the development and institutionalization of pipeline programs, collaborations with institutions and organizations that serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds, community service activities that heighten awareness of and interest in the profession, and academic enrichment programs for applicants who may not have taken traditional pre-medical coursework.

Every school is under the gun to recruit a diverse class. Failure to do so can result in sanctions by the accrediting agency (LCME).

Schools will offer scholarships (that needn't be paid back) and loans to help students cover the cost of attendance. Applicants who are highly desirable and highly sought after by a number of schools may attract more offers of free money. Generally these are students with rare qualities that are highly desirable. Some schools also offer some "need based" aid that need not be paid back as well as loans.

 

[jjesque]

iol i know that there is an advantage to being anything but white male but i think that is completely ******ed. There should be no reason to take less qualified people because of skin color. I wonder if this trend will continue in ~2040 when whites are projected to no longer be the majority.

check your privilege

 

[chemmed123]

I know it may seem like this is a mere desire to exploit the URM aspect, but I am one of the URM's who have a long backstory, which obviously affects my life and academics. I didn't want to seem like a lazy applicant relying on the fact that I am a minority.

 

[Ganymede]

muah😍

 

[Blaughable]

Hi, you must be new around here.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are just ignorant, and not a troll or racist. How do I explain this is one sentence... here goes.

The "URM advantage" has nothing to do with skin color, but rather the historical and present socioeconomical DISadvantage that the AVERAGE person of color experiences compared to the average white male. The URM advantage is a civilized society's attempt to correct for the disadvantage, and while it is not perfect, it is better than nothing.

OK that was 2 sentences. I don't mean to belittle your opinion, but, you know, you're just wrong.

I don't agree. Any reason for recruiting URMs is solely to benefit the patient. The ultimate goal is for the demographics of physicians to represent the demographics of the population being served, which it currently does not. Having a health care system that can identify better with the patient leads to better trust, understanding, communication, and of course better health.

Disadvantaged status is more in line with what you are referring to.

 

[MusicJunkie]

.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I don't agree. Any reason for recruiting URMs is solely to benefit the patient. The ultimate goal is for the demographics of physicians to represent the demographics of the population being served, which it currently does not. Having a health care system that can identify better with the patient leads to better trust, understanding, communication, and of course better health.

Disadvantaged status is more in line with what you are referring to.

This.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I don't agree. Any reason for recruiting URMs is solely to benefit the patient. The ultimate goal is for the demographics of physicians to represent the demographics of the population being served, which it currently does not. Having a health care system that can identify better with the patient leads to better trust, understanding, communication, and of course better health.

Disadvantaged status is more in line with what you are referring to.

Nope, the real reason is that med schools don't want to get their pants sued off by angry minority groups. Bad publicity.

 

[LizzyM]

I don't agree. Any reason for recruiting URMs is solely to benefit the patient. <snip>

And one's fellow trainees... we can learn so much from one another (and it is not a cliche to say that teachers learn from students) which is why medical schools, and many other educational settings, seek a diverse student body and a diverse faculty.

 

[Nandrolone]

Hopefully there is no advantage because I am a white male and it's BS that someone should have lower standards because of their race.

LOL...if this were the misc you would be red.

 

[OREdwardsJR]

LOL...if this were the misc you would be red.

No the hell he wouldn't. He would have probably jumped 100 points.

 

[carramrod06]

The asian data is skewed because real asians are incapable of <3.8 GPA and <39 MCAT so take those areas of the grid with a grain of salt

This made me laugh.

 

[Ansar]

Depends one your Story.... When you apply as a URM the focus seems to shift from your stats to your life story and how you can improve those lives around you and in your community by becoming a doctor. Now this will not completely make up for bad grades however it does increase your chances significantly ( if you story is good) and it becomes a whole new ball game. It is like the MSAR doesn't apply to you and you could get interviews at schools I would never dream of getting interviews at. IF you are a community focused person, which I hope you are, you will have a great shot. I am glad schools can look past a persons grades and scores and understand a disadvantaged status.

Oh, for real? That sounds awesome...certainly a more interesting interview, I suppose 🙂

 

[brandonh4]

I don't agree. Any reason for recruiting URMs is solely to benefit the patient. The ultimate goal is for the demographics of physicians to represent the demographics of the population being served, which it currently does not. Having a health care system that can identify better with the patient leads to better trust, understanding, communication, and of course better health.

Disadvantaged status is more in line with what you are referring to.

So we're gonna go ahead and lower academic standards for people so they can treat a diverse patient population? How does that benefit the patient besides give him a potentially sh**ty doctor?? Weeelllll so long as he identify and communicate with the patient who cares right?

Next time I go to the hospital, I'm demanding a white doctor from a middle-class background. I can't communicate with latino ones all too well. We just don't identify.

God I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

 

[LizzyM]

So we're gonna go ahead and lower academic standards for people so they can treat a diverse patient population? How does that benefit the patient besides give him a potentially sh**ty doctor?? Weeelllll so long as he identify and communicate with the patient who cares right?

Next time I go to the hospital, I'm demanding a white doctor from a middle-class background. I can't communicate with latino ones all too well. We just don't identify.

God I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

Can you accept that there is a floor below which one takes a big chance in admitting an applicant.... The problem is, there are more applicants above the floor than there are slots. A medical student who is sufficiently talented to successfully complete medical school and who has a personal knowledge of the patients' culture and heritage is not going to be a sh**ty doctor for that patient population.

If you want to get into medical school, be extraordinary within your peer group. Anything less isn't good enough.

 

[Optimus Lime]

No the hell he wouldn't. He would have probably jumped 100 points.

i just rep him brah

 

[brandonh4]

Can you accept that there is a floor below which one takes a big chance in admitting an applicant.... The problem is, there are more applicants above the floor than there are slots. A medical student who is sufficiently talented to successfully complete medical school and who has a personal knowledge of the patients' culture and heritage is not going to be a sh**ty doctor for that patient population.

If you want to get into medical school, be extraordinary within your peer group. Anything less isn't good enough.

Should we also lower the physical standards for female firefighters? Surely, they're just as involved in saving lives and communicating with people as are doctors. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post. In any case, this isn't any novel debate we're having.

The problem is that the admissions process is a major barrier to entry for becoming a doctor. You can't reduce the standards for that process just because the successful completion of medical school acts as a "final checkpoint." There are so many degrees of "successfully completing" medical school that the admissions process is just as important.

In any case, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find ANY patient who wants his doctor to have the ability to "understand" or "communicate" or "identify" if it meant he got into medical school with reduced standards. I can't think of anybody who would prefer that, so why can't we just give the patients what they WANT - academically excellent students who kicked some serious textbook ass? Not within the context of of their cultural community, but altogether academically excellent students. I personally think it's racist to offer these communities anything less than the highest standard we place on everyone else.

 

[LizzyM]

Should we also lower the physical standards for female firefighters? Surely, they're just as involved in saving lives and communicating with people as are doctors. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post. In any case, this isn't any novel debate we're having.

The problem is that the admissions process is a major barrier to entry for becoming a doctor. You can't reduce the standards for that process just because the successful completion of medical school acts as a "final checkpoint." There are so many degrees of "successfully completing" medical school that the admissions process is just as important.

In any case, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find ANY patient who wants his doctor to have the ability to "understand" or "communicate" or "identify" if it meant he got into medical school with reduced standards. I can't think of anybody who would prefer that, so why can't we just give the patients what they WANT - academically excellent students who kicked some serious textbook ass? Not within the context of of their cultural community, but altogether academically excellent students. I personally think it's racist to offer these communities anything less than the highest standard we place on everyone else.

If anyone who scores at least a 26 on the MCAT has just as much chance of successfully completing medical school and passing the board exams as someone who scores a 35, should we limit admission to medical school to those people who have scored 30 or higher because they are "better"?

Some communities would prefer a qualified physician who is genuinely interested in their well being and the practice of primary care. They know that the smartest, most highly qualified physicians who want to subspecialize are not necessarily the people who have any interest in their piss-poor communities or the provision of the services that they need.

 

[NickNaylor]

Should we also lower the physical standards for female firefighters? Surely, they're just as involved in saving lives and communicating with people as are doctors. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post. In any case, this isn't any novel debate we're having.

The problem is that the admissions process is a major barrier to entry for becoming a doctor. You can't reduce the standards for that process just because the successful completion of medical school acts as a "final checkpoint." There are so many degrees of "successfully completing" medical school that the admissions process is just as important.

In any case, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find ANY patient who wants his doctor to have the ability to "understand" or "communicate" or "identify" if it meant he got into medical school with reduced standards. I can't think of anybody who would prefer that, so why can't we just give the patients what they WANT - academically excellent students who kicked some serious textbook ass? Not within the context of of their cultural community, but altogether academically excellent students. I personally think it's racist to offer these communities anything less than the highest standard we place on everyone else.

What patients want is someone they can relate to and who is clinically capable. For better or worse, one's skin color is a major factor in determining if someone is "like you."

Let's also not forget that there are many people alive today who were around when the US government intentionally inoculated black individuals with syphilis. There is significant distrust among many minorities of white physicians, and justfiably so.

I personally have seen how black patients will share very little information with me (a white guy) but open up to my (black) supervising physician. It happens whether you accept or believe it or not.

(sent from my phone)

 

[munchymanRX]

Affirmative action/diversity initiatives/whatever you want to call them are ridiculous, and as a URM I actually find them offensive. It just tells me that I'm not hardworking or smart enough to be on a level playing field with the rest of the country. I don't appreciate being coddled, especially when that coddling has discriminatory undertones.

At the same time, however, I would have been an idiot to not take advantage of it. The system is the way it is, and you've got to take what opportunities it gives you because you can bet on someone else doing the same. If you don't agree with the policies, you can try to change them in the voting booth. Hypocritical? Yes, but welcome to the ugly face of US racial politics.

I'm surprised this isn't brought up more here, but another reason I don't agree with affirmative action-esque policies is that at their core, they're lazy. Rather than make an effort to actually address the problem with education disparities, they've decided to just lower standards for URMs at the post-secondary education level. Why is the average african american or latino not as well educated or affluent as his white or asian counterparts? Are you going to actually put that issue on the table and examine why racial disparities exist in a society that prides itself on its "egalitarianism"? Or are you just going to gloss over it and pretend it's all ok as long as a certain fraction of us get into college every year.

Rather disappointing, if you ask me.

 

[brandonh4]

If anyone who scores at least a 26 on the MCAT has just as much chance of successfully completing medical school and passing the board exams as someone who scores a 35, should we limit admission to medical school to those people who have scored 30 or higher because they are "better"?



Some communities would prefer a qualified physician who is genuinely interested in their well being and the practice of primary care. They know that the smartest, most highly qualified physicians who want to subspecialize are not necessarily the people who have any interest in their piss-poor communities or the provision of the services that they need.

You obviously know better - do they pass the boards with higher scores? If so, then yes, we should limit admission on that basis. If not, then why the heck are we using the MCAT as an admissions standard anyway?

Maybe Al Sharpton would say that, but if you asked a piss-poor 80 year old black granny what she prefers for her grandson- a black doctor who got into medical school with reduced standards, or does she want an academically gifted white doctor who excelled in his class. I'm gonna guess the latter, but then again I'm an ignorant white male who had everything handed to him. I understand doctors have to be leaders and care about the community they serve - but do we have to do that by segregating doctors with potentially-compromised academic ability? Is that really the best option? Seems a little backwards to me...

 

[Blaughable]

So we're gonna go ahead and lower academic standards for people so they can treat a diverse patient population? How does that benefit the patient besides give him a potentially sh**ty doctor?? Weeelllll so long as he identify and communicate with the patient who cares right?

Next time I go to the hospital, I'm demanding a white doctor from a middle-class background. I can't communicate with latino ones all too well. We just don't identify.

God I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

Well that was quite the emotional response. Have you or someone you know been directly effected by these sh**ty URM doctors? If not, I don't see what you're getting all worked up about. What good is an amazing doctor if the patient is too nervous to go in for a checkup. A doctor - patient relationship without trust is no relationship at all. It's almost as if you've been watching a few too many episodes of House.

I also never said that lowering academic standards is right or necessary. However, who are you to say that someone with mediocre numbers wouldn't make a better physician than someone with the high numbers.

If you were at a hospital in Mexico, you sure as hell would ask for the white english speaking doctor.

In any case, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find ANY patient who wants his doctor to have the ability to "understand" or "communicate" or "identify" if it meant he got into medical school with reduced standards. I can't think of anybody who would prefer that, so why can't we just give the patients what they WANT - academically excellent students who kicked some serious textbook ass? Not within the context of of their cultural community, but altogether academically excellent students. I personally think it's racist to offer these communities anything less than the highest standard we place on everyone else.

I have spoken to patients and I can honestly tell you the opposite. People WANT someone who they feel cares for them, who can empathize with them, who they feel comfortable with. Additionally, everyone has to go through medical school, take the boards, and match. It's not like they are getting a free ride through medical school.

 

[brandonh4]

What patients want is someone they can relate to and who is clinically capable. For better or worse, one's skin color is a major factor in determining if someone is "like you."

Let's also not forget that there are many people alive today who were around when the US government intentionally inoculated black individuals with syphilis. There is significant distrust among many minorities of white physicians, and justfiably so.

I personally have seen how black patients will share very little information with me (a white guy) but open up to my (black) supervising physician. It happens whether you accept or believe it or not.

(sent from my phone)

So we're catering to their racism? Justifiable or not, I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

 

[NickNaylor]

So we're catering to their racism? Justifiable or not, I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

No, we're catering to providing the best patient care possible. The fact is that people identify with others of their own race (I'm sure this is true of yourself as well) rather than others. Consequently, they feel more comfortable talking to them about intimate issues, including those that are health-related. If you don't understand how that might impact their care, then there's no hope for you.

 

[NickNaylor]

If thats the case, what is the utility behind schools that are creamin to keep their mcat average >35? (I.e. yale, wustl, chicago, penn, etc)... is it just for bragging rights and hopes of boosting us news rankings?

Yup.

 

[911 Turbo]

I can understand a black/native american patient not wanting a white doctor.

But I don't see why a black/native american patient would have a problem with an asian doctor.

So since both blacks and native americans can be represented by asians, do asians get an easier time going through medical school admissions?

 

[Lexicon0]

I can understand a black/native american patient not wanting a white doctor.

But I don't see why a black/native american patient would have a problem with an asian doctor.

So since both blacks and native americans can be represented by asians, do asians get an easier time going through medical school admissions?

I'm sorry but, what...?

 

[Sandstorm]

I think the consensus is that being URM does have a significant effect on an application, but the amount of people getting this advantage is overestimated. Having URM students in medical school is a good thing.

Yes to all but there being a consensus regarding URM advantages being a good thing.

By its nature, affirmative action is asking for both equality and special privileges in the same breath.

Blah blah blah call me a racist (which is falsoooo), I just think if we want equality...quit giving people special privileges.

 

[jjesque]

So we're catering to their racism? Justifiable or not, I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

Identifying with people of your own race is not racism. If I am ethnic Chinese and identify with people of my own heritage, is that discrimination?

I am a visible minority and recently went on vacation in a rural part of the US. Spent two weeks there and did not see a single non-Caucasian. I'm from a very ethnically diverse city and felt very uncomfortable/out of place. It's not "racist" to feel that way in the same way that it's not sexist for a woman to feel out of place in a room full of men. Definitely helped me empathize a bit more with supporters of URM programs.

 

[Sandstorm]

No, we're catering to providing the best patient care possible. The fact is that people identify with others of their own race (I'm sure this is true of yourself as well) rather than others. Consequently, they feel more comfortable talking to them about intimate issues, including those that are health-related. If you don't understand how that might impact their care, then there's no hope for you.

Color me hopeless...Id like to think that we can move past the race lines and be cool with having a doctor of a different race.

 

[911 Turbo]

I'm sorry but, what...?

I mean in healthcare.. if black and asian patients feel comfortable with asian doctors

 

[mechengmed]

No, we're catering to providing the best patient care possible. The fact is that people identify with others of their own race (I'm sure this is true of yourself as well) rather than others. Consequently, they feel more comfortable talking to them about intimate issues, including those that are health-related. If you don't understand how that might impact their care, then there's no hope for you.

Yes, most people tend to have friends and spouses who are their race but that is a different issue than the relationship you should have with a doctor. I am having a shoulder surgery in December and the surgeon is white because he is the most well regarded orthopedic surgeon in the area. My neurologist, however is Indian because he is one of the better neurologists where I live. I also had another surgery a few years back and flew to another state to have a Hispanic surgeon because he is one of the best. I do not care what race my doctors are as long as I get the best care possible.

 

[brandonh4]

No, we're catering to providing the best patient care possible. The fact is that people identify with others of their own race (I'm sure this is true of yourself as well) rather than others. Consequently, they feel more comfortable talking to them about intimate issues, including those that are health-related. If you don't understand how that might impact their care, then there's no hope for you.

So, we're catering to their racism. I had always understood racism to be a bad thing, but I guess we're cool with it unless white people do it. Like I said, next time I'm at the doctor's office I'm gonna go ahead and ask for a white doctor. We'll see how far that gets me.

Gosh I guess there's no hope for me after all.

 

[LizzyM]

Affirmative action/diversity initiatives/whatever you want to call them are ridiculous, and as a URM I actually find them offensive.

The LCME (accrediting body for medical schools) makes the following statement and harshly judges schools that do not comply:

medical education program should work within its own institutions and/or collaborate with other institutions to make admission to medical education programs more accessible to potential applicants of diverse backgrounds. Institutions can accomplish that aim through a variety of approaches, including, but not limited to, the development and institutionalization of pipeline programs, collaborations with institutions and organizations that serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds, community service activities that heighten awareness of and interest in the profession, and academic enrichment programs for applicants who may not have taken traditional pre-medical coursework.

Do you find those activities to be ridiculous and offensive?

We aren't born on a level playing field and the US system of education (particularly the local funding of public schools through property taxes) makes the playing field even more uneven as time goes on. Activities that give potential applicants of diverse backgrounds access to opportunities to improve their chances of being admitted to medical school are admirable, IMHO.

 

[Sandstorm]

So, we're catering to their racism. I had always understood racism to be a bad thing, but I guess we're cool with it unless white people do it. Like I said, next time I'm at the doctor's office I'm gonna go ahead and ask for a white doctor. We'll see how far that gets me.

Gosh I guess there's no hope for me after all.

Nah, that won't fly. Don't you know it's only socially acceptable for racism to go one way these days?

I mean...we have BET but imagine the backlash if a WET showed up. Omigosh you're such a racisssssstrttt

 

[Blaughable]

Yes, most people tend to have friends and spouses who are their race but that is a different issue than the relationship you should have with a doctor. I am having a shoulder surgery in December and the surgeon is white because he is the most well regarded orthopedic surgeon in the area. My neurologist, however is Indian because he is one of the better neurologists where I live. I also had another surgery a few years back and flew to another state to have a Hispanic surgeon because he is one of the best. I do not care what race my doctors are as long as I get the best care possible.

Surgery is a bit immune to this topic in that it is easily measurable and the risks are more apparent.

 

[jjesque]

Nah, that won't fly. Don't you know it's only socially acceptable for racism to go one way these days?

I mean...we have BET but imagine the backlash if a WET showed up. Omigosh you're such a racisssssstrttt

Privilege privilege privilege

Some people are wearing blinders here. Can white people be discriminated against in a specific situation or context? Sure. But is there a systemic, institutionalized discrimination against whites? Not at all. Not in the same way that minority groups experience. If you can't recognize this, I don't know what to tell you.

Edit: And that's why I laugh when I see people bring up BET/WET and point to that as an example, I guess, of "black privilege"? It so intentionally ignores and reduces an entire system of racism to a tiny microcosm.

Also, I am not black as I know some people are wondering...you don't have to be to empathize.

 

[lobo.solo]

So we're catering to their racism? Justifiable or not, I had no idea adults and politicians could be this dumb.

Does that mean that you are just a whiny spoiled kid?

Anyways, you said that you can't imagine how patients would like a less "qualified" doctor to treat them? First of all, every practicing doctor has to pass the boards to practice, meaning that if they are practicing they are qualified. Second of all, obviously you are ignorant as to what patients want. Do you have any clinical experience? and I am not talking just to shadow some doctor in a private practice... have you interacted with uninsured poor patients in a county hospital? I have for more than 3 years and what I have seen across different races (Asian, White, Black, Latino, etc.) is that they make a somewhat better connection with their doctors that leads to adherence to their treatment, which in the end benefits the patient--not the doctor. Many times, it has to do with understanding their culture. For instance, Asians tend to have non-western practices when they are receiving chemotherapy. Many times they don't communicate this to non-Asian staff because they simply don't understand where they're coming from. I would not understand how drinking hot water in the morning benefits you..... I would not be empathetic of this practice and perhaps not approve it, which will damage my relationship and communication with my patients.