A Growing Diversity Among Doctors

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The face of health care in America is changing.

Change is not always a bad thing. In fact in many cases it is good. If you look at the makeup of doctors in training, the biggest thing that jumps out is diversity.

Here are some numbers: in 2009, 48% of students applying to medical school were women and 48% of students in the 2009 first year class of medical school happen to be women.

It doesn't stop there—in graduate education, 45% of residents and fellows are women and 38% of physicians under 44 are women.

This is dramatically different from twenty years ago.

There is also a more diverse mix from a cultural standpoint.a breakdown of the 2009 first year medical school class finds 65% white, 22% Asian, 7% Hispanic/Latino, and 7% black/African-American.

Diversity often leads to different thinking and, for patients, varied choices. So, ultimately it leads to better growth.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor