Observational studyJAMA network open2025
Affirmative Action Repeal and Racial and Ethnic Diversity in US Medical School Admissions.
Observational study in JAMA network open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Federal Policy Changes and Online Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Content Among US Medical Schools.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Error in Limitations and Table 1 Footnotes.JAMA network open · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Importance: In June 2023, the US Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University effectively overturned affirmative action, raising concerns about the future of diversity in medical education. A diverse physician workforce is crucial for advancing health care equity and improving patient outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the association between the Supreme Court's ruling and the racial and ethnic composition of students matriculating into Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) programs. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional analysis of comprehensive publicly available data on medical school applications and matriculation by race and ethnicity from 2020 to 2024. Data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) to compare across MD and DO programs. Five application cycles were analyzed, with 4 representing preruling trends. Main Outcome and Measure: Change in the racial and ethnic composition of matriculating medical students following the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University decision. Results: From 2020 to 2025, there were a mean (SD) of 55 037 (4315) applicants and 22 750 (349) matriculants to MD institutions and 214 163 (17 243) applicants and 9019 (274) matriculants to DO institutions. Significant disparities in application and matriculation patterns were observed across both program types, with persistent underrepresentation among American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and multiracial applicants. Between the 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 academic years, MD matriculation declined by 11.6% for Black students (χ21 = 40.59; P < .001) and 10.8% for Hispanic students (χ21 = 45.87; P < .001), respectively. DO programs showed broader underrepresentation. Compared with White and Asian applicants, all other racial groups were significantly underrepresented in both applications and matriculation. Conclusions and Relevance: These declines threaten progress toward health care equity. Medical schools must explore alternative admissions strategies, such as holistic review processes that account for structural barriers. Without such efforts, reduced diversity in medical education may worsen existing health disparities.
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