PHYSICIAN SERVICE TO THE UNDERSERVED - IMPLICATIONS FOR AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION IN MEDICAL-EDUCATION

Affirmative action is under increasing scrutiny. In medicine, the obse rvation that minority physicians disproportionately serve minority pat ients has been one rationale for affirmative action. Using two large p hysician surveys, we find that minority and women physicians are much more likely to serve minority, poor, and Medicaid populations. Weaker, but significant association exists between physician and patient soci oeconomic background. Service patterns are sustained over time and are generally consistent with physician career preferences. Ending affirm ative action in medicine may imperil access to care. Results do not su pport affirmative action based on economic disadvantage instead of rac e, ethnicity, and sex.