The momentous annual occasion known as Match Day was recently upon us. Thousands of medical students across the country opened envelopes that revealed their academic destiny for the next several years. What medical students learn during several intense years of study and practical application has evolved over time, with increased recognition that biomedical knowledge is necessary but not sufficient to develop humanistic, person-centered physicians. Noticeably missing from the curriculum, however, is an emphasis on the diverse array of individuals, past and present, who have contributed to the field of medicine.

Beyond homogenous institutional histories

As one traverses the long road required to become a doctor, it does not take long to figure out that academic organizations take great pride in their own histories. From named buildings to distinguished lectureships to family endowments, there is no shortage of reminders about the notable people who have gone above and beyond, contributing to the institution’s clinical, educational, and scholarly missions. Institutional pride is important and often serves as a means to bring a community together. But when institutions depict a homogenous version of academic excellence, the message that this sends detracts from community-building.

Teaching diverse excellence in medical education

In recent years, several institutions, including my own, have worked to enhance the representation of portraits that hang in hallowed halls. Instead of exclusively seeing white men as I traverse the hallways, I now see people who represent multiple demographics staring back at me. These initiatives are part of a broader effort that some institutions have adopted to promote a sense of belonging for every individual in the academic community.

Such efforts are laudable. But they are not enough. Medical education ought to embrace a more intentional approach to teaching medical trainees about the accomplishments and contributions of diverse health care leaders, not just past, but present too.

After years of bypassing LinkedIn, I joined the crowd about one year ago. I was both astonished and delighted to see a number of women and underrepresented racial groups with high-profile leadership roles and significant contributions to the field of medicine. There were a surprisingly high number of people I had not ever heard of, even when their contributions were directly relevant to my areas of academic interest.

This trend is not unique to academic medicine. We know that kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) schools tend to focus on oppression narratives (e.g., slavery, civil rights narratives) when discussing black and brown history, rather than holistic teaching about the contributions and excellence of diverse individuals. The parallel pitfall in academic medicine is a focus on health inequities and social and structural determinants of health, without acknowledgement of notable counter-stereotypic figures in medicine.

Moving beyond oppression narratives in medicine

There is good reason to make improvements in this area. Creating space to teach underrepresented learners about diverse contributions has an important effect on engagement, self-concept, and belonging, all of which are necessary for academic success. To be clear, this is a both/and situation. Notable white men should not be erased from institutional histories just to make room for other narratives. And medical trainees do need to understand race-driven gaps in the U.S. health care system, ideally acquiring the knowledge and skills to effectively mitigate them. But when deficits are all we talk about when we mention diverse groups in medicine, we risk replicating the same oppression narratives that have dogged K-12 schools for decades.

The next time Match Day rolls around, here is what I would love to see. A class that is not only prepared to meet the challenges of a career in modern medicine but also balances their knowledge of health inequities with an achievement-focused lens of notable figures across many backgrounds and lived experiences.

Aba Black is an internal medicine physician.