A significant body of research indicates that a workforce that more closely mirrors the racial and ethnic diversity of our state will increase access to care and improve the quality of care that is delivered. When we think of a diverse health workforce, we think of providers who bring an understanding of cultural health beliefs, and methods that respect those beliefs, into the health care system. We also know that physicians of color typically provide more care for the poor and uninsured and more frequently practice in areas with shortages of providers than their nonminority peers. As such, building a more diverse cadre of physicians, nurses, dentists and allied health professionals is a crucial strategy for improving the health of underserved communities in California.

This edition of Reflections is authored by Saba Brelvi, program director for our Foundation’s grantmaking in this issue. She oversees a portfolio of grants that includes pipeline programs, scholarships, outreach and retention programs, fellowships and loan repayment programs for underrepresented ethnic minorities. Other grantees educate California policymakers and advocate for public and institutional policies that promote diversity in the health professions in our state. The Foundation has also instituted a leadership recognition program, the Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award, to publicly recognize and financially reward individuals in California who have made substantial contributions to this issue.

Recently, national attention regarding the need for a diverse health workforce has emerged, with groundbreaking reports published by the Institute of Medicine and the Sullivan Commission. Efforts to advance each report’s policy agenda are being led by the authors and other contributors who worked diligently on them in a new organization — the Sullivan Alliance. With a research base established by recognized scholars, and grassroots policy advocates addressing the quality of education options available for students of color and the challenges of financing a postsecondary education, as well as a growing number of mentoring and support programs at under- and postgraduate institutions, we are beginning to see a field of professionals coalesce around the need to increase diversity in the health professions.

We hope this document will be useful to those considering funding around this issue. We encourage your comments and feedback.

Gary L. Yates, President and CEO
The California Wellness Foundation

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