Bloomberg Philanthropies HBCU gift changes the trajectory of Black healthcare

Last month, Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies made a historic and significant investment into the medical schools situated at Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU). Specifically, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a new $600 million gift to help bolster the endowments of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine. Seed funding was also awarded to support the development of Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, a new medical school to be developed at Xavier University in New Orleans.

According to its press release, “the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment is part of its Greenwood Initiative – an effort that seeks to advance racial wealth equity including addressing systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities. The funding will support the historically Black medical schools as they continue to train the next generation of minority healthcare professionals.”   

Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine will each receive a gift of $175 million, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science will receive $75 million. The Bloomberg gift will more than double three of the four medical schools’ endowments.

The four historically Black medical schools alone graduate nearly one half of the Black doctors in the United States, yet they remain significantly underfunded due to systemic inequities and structural racism. The endowments of these institutions are anemic in comparison to the predominantly white medical school peers.

The result is outdated facilities – laboratories, classrooms, and overall campus infrastructure; limited research capacity; and a significant competitive disadvantage in the market for talented faculty and support staff. Ultimately, the result is a misperception that despite their documented productivity, and the quality of the healthcare professionals graduating from these institutions, that they are less desirable academic destinations, leaving them vulnerable to enrollment fluctuations and accreditation challenges in the areas of academic resources and facilities.

Studies have shown that Black people have better health outcomes when they are treated by Black physicians. While the U.S. population is 13 percent Black, only 7 percent of medical school graduates and less than 6 percent of all practicing doctors are Black. This shocking disproportion must be confronted and addressed, though it is an extremely heavy burden to place on the four surviving medical schools and the anticipated Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. 

Since the early 1900s, a combination of factors – including the impacts of the “Flexner Report” and other discriminatory practices and attitudes – have led to the closing of at least ten Black medical schools in the United States. Released in 1954 by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), this report, officially titled "Medical Education in the United States," served as a catalyst for the closure of several Black medical schools under the guise of improving quality medical education.

The report concluded that the quality of medical education could be improved by consolidating and standardizing medical schools, advocating for the closure of smaller and weaker institutions, including several historically Black medical schools.  It was entirely silent on the value of diversity or the need for physicians steeped in cultural knowledge and empathy.

Additionally, the report did not acknowledge the systemic racism that had historically limited access to education for Black Americans, leading to the development of segregated institutions like Black medical schools. These schools, despite facing significant challenges due to underfunding and limited resources, provided critical access to medical education for Black students. 

To the contrary, the report’s recommendations were used as a justification to actively push for the closure of Black medical schools. The argument for consolidation often overlooked the unique role of these institutions in training physicians for underserved communities. By emphasizing efficiency and standardization, the report disregarded the social context and the pressing need for racially diverse medical professionals.

The report's impact was devastating. Between 1950 and 1968, eight Black medical schools closed, leaving only four operating across the country. These closures resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of Black physicians in the United States, further widening the racial disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. The Flexner Report, along with the discriminatory policies it reinforced, played a significant role in perpetuating these disparities, leading to a legacy of inequality in the American healthcare system. Further, its emphasis on a highly centralized and standardized medical curriculum, made it harder for Black institutions to compete for resources, recognition, and critical philanthropic investment.

The legacy of the Flexner Report continues to shape the American healthcare system today. The closure of Black medical schools exacerbated the already significant shortage of Black physicians, leading to a lack of culturally competent care for Black patients, or in many instances, access to care at all. The report's discriminatory language and its emphasis on consolidating and standardizing medical education perpetuated a system that favored white institutions and discriminated against Black physicians and, Black students.

The Flexner Report stands as a stark reminder of the deeply embedded racism in American history and its lasting impact on the healthcare system. While race-neutral on its face, the report’s impact was, in a word – devastating to Black medical schools that were already struggling to stay alive. The report's influence serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for a critical examination of systemic bias in healthcare and the importance of actively combating historical injustices by considering cultural context and the unintended (or intended) consequences of race-neutral policies.

Despite the devastating impact of the Flexner Report, the legacy of Black medical schools lives on. The few remaining institutions continue to play a vital role in training diverse physicians and providing quality healthcare to underserved communities. The investment made by Bloomberg Philanthropies sends a strong message that affirms that these institutions are critically important to the fight for racial justice in healthcare. They produce half of the physicians of color and expand culturally responsive care to historically marginalized populations. If these schools are to keep pace with the standards for medical education, including rigorous science-based training and modern facilities, investments like the ones made by Bloomberg are essential.

The gift has significant practical implications for future medical students as well. As a student at Morehouse College with aspirations of becoming a physician, the recent investment by Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies represents more than just financial support—it symbolizes a transformative shift in the opportunities available to students like me.

Growing up, I was keenly aware of the systemic barriers that could limit my access to high-quality education and resources. Choosing to pursue my medical education at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) like Morehouse was a deeply personal decision. These institutions have a rich legacy of producing highly skilled healthcare professionals who make a profound impact on underrepresented communities. However, the financial disparities between HBCUs and their predominantly white counterparts have long been a concern.

The funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies is a game-changer. It provides a much-needed boost that will allow Morehouse School of Medicine, along with other historically Black medical schools, to modernize facilities, expand research opportunities, and enhance faculty recruitment. For me, this means that I can receive top-notch medical training and access resources that were previously out of reach due to underfunding.

In an ideal world, choosing to study at a culturally significant institution like Morehouse should be about the fit with my values and goals, not about financial limitations, or concerns about resource disparity. With this significant investment, there is a real opportunity to level the playing field. It reassures me that if I pursue my medical education at Morehouse, I will not be at a disadvantage compared to peers from predominantly white institutions. Instead, I will have access to the same high-caliber resources and opportunities that are crucial for a successful medical career.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment helps to affirm the value of HBCUs and the importance of investing in institutions that have been historically underfunded. It gives me hope that the future of medical education can be more equitable and that students like me can thrive in environments that honor our heritage while providing the tools needed to excel in a competitive field.

This funding is more than just a financial contribution; it is a commitment to ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds have the resources they need to achieve their dreams. For me and many others, it transforms the aspiration of becoming a physician from a challenging pursuit into a promising reality, supported by a community that believes in our potential.

On behalf of the HBCU community and aspiring HBCU medical students, thank you to Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies for investing in health and healing in historically underserved, under-represented, under-resourced and underappreciated Black medical schools and communities. It is our sincere hope that other philanthropists will follow suit and make transformative investments in HBCU medical schools and undergraduate pre-med programs. 

Selby Jayden Artis is a sophomore Biology Major at Morehouse College.

Roslyn Clark Artis is president of Benedict College.