Pipeline programs in the health professions, part 2: the impact of recent legal challenges to affirmative action.
BACKGROUND
Despite recent challenges to educational pipeline programs, these academic enrichment programs are still an integral component in diversifying the health professions and reducing health disparities. This is part 2 of a 2-part series on the role of pipeline programs in increasing the number of racial and ethnic minorities in the health professions and addressing related health disparities. Part 1 of this series looked at the role of pipeline programs in achieving a diverse health professional workforce and provided strategies to expand pipeline programs.


METHODS
This paper presents an historical overview of affirmative action case law, anti-affirmative action legislation, and race-conscious and race-neutral admission programs in education. Additionally, part 2 reviews current legal theory and related law that impact the diversity and cultural competence pipeline programming at higher-education institutions. Finally, based on recommendations from a review of legal and other literature, the authors offer recommendations for reviewing and preserving diverse pipeline programs for health professional schools.


CONCLUSIONS
Affirmative action is an essential legal means to ensure the diversity-related educational programs in the health profession educational programs. Anti-affirmative action legislation and state-sponsored antiaffirmative voter initiatives have the potential to limit the number of underrepresented minorities in the health professions and create even greater opportunity gaps and educational disparities. Therefore, we must shift the paradigm and reframe the dialogue involving affirmative action and move from debate to a collaborative discussion in order to address the historical and contemporary disparities that make affirmative action necessary today.
Smith
Sonya G
SG
Health Services Research & Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4250, USA. sonyagsmith@unmc.edu
Nsiah-Kumi
Phyllis A
PA
Jones
Pamela R
PR
Pamies
Rubens J
RJ
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009329:Nebraska; D011057:Politics; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States