Editor,
Thank you for drawing attention to the paucity of Native Americans at UNM’s Medical School. But what is to keep these emerging doctors from practicing outside New Mexico’s many underserved areas, or even leaving the state? They can do this because of the shortage in the total number of doctors in the nation as a whole.
Given that becoming a doctor is smooth sailing once admittance is obtained into a medical school, the problem can be traced back to the valve that controls how many students are admitted. Those who control this valve are doctors themselves, including the doctor who is president (and CEO) of the Association of American Medical Colleges. This is like a bunch of plumbers in a town getting to decide how many more get to work there.
Therefore, control of this valve needs to rest with the federal government, which should counter the naysayers to health care reform by pointing out that a very large number of straight-A students apply to medical school, and only a tiny fraction get admitted. Statistically, then, if the number enrolled is even doubled, how could any lowering of the quality of the graduating class be significant?
Arun Anand Ahuja
UNM student
