Minority Healthcare Professionals

So I receive a daily Enewsletter from the AOA (American Optometric Association), on updates on news and what not... below is the actual description they provide.

AOA (American Optometric Association) First Look is intended to provide an immediate, unfiltered look at the news that affects optometrists and our patients. 

 I think that I am going to post interesting articles/blurbs that might be interesting and informative. Below is discusses the number of minority doctors...currently it is 6%, honestly when they say minority I am not sure if they are including hispanics/native americans. However there are only 4% African American Optometrists...that is so crazy to me. And it is actually getting worse, because there are only 3% blacks currently enrolled in Optometry school, so that number is going down today. 

Surgeon general calls for more minority doctors.

The AP (12/4, Stobbe) reports that US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin "called for stepped-up efforts in increasing the number of minority physicians" yesterday in one of her first speeches in her new position. Benjamin "noted that the proportion of US physicians who are minorities is only six percent -- the same proportion as a century ago. 'There's something wrong with that,' said Benjamin, speaking at a conference on health disparities at a hotel in downtown Atlanta."

        The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (12/4) notes that Benjamin told the group, "Unless the current trend is reversed, our country will see a growing ethnic and racial disconnect between those who receive care and those who provide that care." The "53-year-old graduate of the Morehouse School of Medicine" added that "the recent downward trend in minority admissions follows years of gains in these areas. ... Asked whether the need for more minority medical professionals would be a priority of her time as the nation's highest-ranking health profession, the newly appointed Benjamin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she has yet to announce her priorities. But she emphasized that it is an important issue." 

Oh another random narrative before I go. So I am in class currently, and maybe 20 minutes ago I was waving my hand around (for at least 4 mins) trying to ask a question and the professor literally called on everyone BUT me. When he called on another classmate he actually said "Can you answer VanB's question first"... Of course the class laughed because EVERYONE, but him (supposedly) saw my hand up. And a classmate next to mine, said to me, I guess racism does exist...Umm yeah I didn't find his comment funny AT ALL...ga-reat. Anyways...Until Next Time...