Blacks, Medical Schools, and Society

One American in 560 becomes a doctor . . . Only one Black American in 3800 does. Why? The answers-and what can be done about them-are presented in this succinct and important book by Dr. James L. Curtis. Blacks, Medical Schools, and Society provides an insightful history of the Black physician in America-from colonial times to the present-as well as an incisive analysis of contemporary trends and future prospects in Black medical education. Examining high school programs and premedical workshops such as the Cornell Medical School-Hampton Institute collaboration, the author evaluates the impact of current approaches and suggests practical steps to increase the quality and quantity of trained Black doctors and dentists. At a time when physicians are in short supply, and when-for the first time-more than half of the country's Black medical students are attending predominantly white schools, this book offers a significant and straightforward commentary on the medical practices of a multiracial society.