Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2023, diversity is in decline at medical schools nationwide.

This includes a more than 10% drop in enrollment for Black and Latino students — despite an increase in applicants, according to data from the American Association of Medical Colleges.

“The decline is really harmful for our patients, our communities that we live in, as well as for the medical societies,” said Dr. Monica Maalouf, a primary care physician and a professor of medicine and assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine. “We know from really good data, that having diverse physicians and nurses helps improve patient outcomes, helps patients meet their health goals and live longer. But it also helps the physician workforce. Physicians who work in diverse environments tend to do better, have better job satisfaction and are able to care for diverse communities better.”

Health equity could be facing further challenges in the face of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to target DEI programs. That could impact the patients who rely on physicians from their own race and ethnicity who speak their native language.

“It’s really important,” said Dr. Susan Lopez, a primary care physician and assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Rush University Medical Center. “It’s not just the language, it’s the connection with culture … and understanding that culture.”

Lopez is also the co-advisor of Rush University’s Latino Medical Student Association.