For First Time, a Big Gender Shift for Med Students

Some research has shown that female patients fare better when seen by women doctors, per Today—which means the latest news out of the Association of American Medical Colleges this week may put many ladies' minds at ease. For the first time ever, the majority of students—50.5% in 2019—enrolled in US medical schools are women, notes a release from the association, which adds that number has been steadily rising over the past few years: In 2015, it came in at 46.9%, while by last year, it had jumped to 49.5%. Just two years ago, women made up the majority of first-year med students for the first time.

"The steady gains in the medical school enrollment of women are a very positive trend, and we are delighted to see this progress," AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton said in a statement. He adds, however, that "modest increases" in enrollment of applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups could still use a boost. "We cannot accept this as the status quo and must do more to educate and train a more diverse physician workforce to care for a more diverse America," he says. (More medical students stories.)