Black History Month 2025: The healthcare workforce and diversity initiatives

The Buzz This Week

The month of February marks the celebration of Black History Month, which spotlights the invaluable contributions of African Americans throughout history. The theme for this year, set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, focuses on “African Americans and Labor,” encouraging reflections on the intersection of Black people’s work and workplaces. This theme holds particular significance in the context of the modern healthcare workforce, revealing disparities and challenges faced by Black workers.

Despite some progress, the representation of Black physicians in the US remains disproportionately low. A 2021 study from the University of California, Los Angeles, revealed a 4% increase in the number of Black doctors over the past 120 years. As of 2023, only 5.7% of physicians in the US identified as Black or African American, highlighting a gap in diversity within the profession as Black people make up 13.7% of the US population. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and key safety net hospitals play a vital role in informing medical school admissions practices following the US Supreme Court decision on race-neutral admissions, but the gap persists.

Moreover, Black women play a crucial role in the healthcare workforce but remain disproportionately concentrated in some of the industry’s lowest-paying and most hazardous jobs. According to a Health Affairs study, Black women make up 14.5% of the healthcare workforce—nearly double their share of the overall labor force—and have played a pivotal role in increasing diversity within the medical field.

However, they are overrepresented in long-term care and roles such as nursing assistants and home health aides. These positions often have low wages, limited benefits, and greater physical demands, largely driven by systemic inequalities that limit opportunities. Black nurses face many obstacles and biases in the workplace and are underrepresented in leadership roles.

Addressing these inequalities requires policy and institutional reforms, including expanding education and career advancement opportunities. In addition, per an Urban Institute report, building and sustaining the Black nursing workforce requires value and support for contributions made by Black nurses, as well as addressing negative and biased workplace dynamics to retain a diverse staff.

Why It Matters

As we commemorate Black History Month and reflect on the labor contributions of Black Americans, addressing the persistent disparities in the healthcare workforce is crucial. This includes amplifying the voices of Black healthcare workers and advocating for inclusive workplaces that value diversity and promote equality. Recognizing and addressing these issues is essential to building a more equitable and inclusive healthcare industry.

While progress has been made in diversifying healthcare, systemic challenges remain. Recent policy shifts, including executive orders impacting diversity programs, have raised concerns about the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These actions create uncertainty—particularly within healthcare, where DEI programs have been instrumental in supporting professionals from historically marginalized groups, including Black individuals.

This uncertainty is further compounded by recent shifts in public opinion. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that the percentage of US workers who view DEI efforts as “a good thing” has decreased slightly since 2023. Part of the issue is confusion over what DEI is—removing discrimination; identifying and fixing biased processes and practices; and creating a shared sense of respect, value, and safety in the workplace. This is in part due to the politicization of the topic and false statements portraying DEI initiatives.

Despite these shifts in public opinion, DEI initiatives are critical for advancing diversity in leadership, increasing representation in specialized fields, and addressing disparities in healthcare outcomes that disproportionately affect Black communities.

Research supports that racial concordance between patients and providers can enhance communication, trust, and adherence to medical advice—all of which lead to more positive health outcomes. Studies also have shown that Black patients treated by Black physicians and nurses are more likely to accurately report health risks, follow medication recommendations, and express health concerns. A diverse healthcare workforce that reflects the communities it serves better equips the organization to meet the unique needs of all patients, ultimately leading to greater trust and better outcomes.