More than 1,000 doctors and nearly 400 veterinarians were invited to ceremonies as they prepare to enter professions facing workforce shortages to make an impact on healthcare for humans and animals. Keynote speakers included American Veterinary Medical Association Executive Vice President and CEO Dr. Janet Donlin, Watts Healthcare Corporation Interim CEO and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Oliver Tate Brooks, and neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Monica Makhija.
On May 19 and 20, graduates and their families celebrated commencement from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM). A total of 1,028 medical students from 44 states and 22 countries along with 395 veterinary students from five countries and 44 states were invited to participate in the ceremonies in Miami.
Adding Diversity to the Medical Profession
Some 27% of those invited to participate in Adtalem’s 2023 medical school graduations identified as a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented in medicine (URiM). During the 2021-2022 academic year, the most recent data available from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 19% of MD graduates from U.S. medical schools identified as a URiM graduate.
In 2021-2022, 6.9% of all US allopathic medical school graduates were Black/African American and 6.1% were LatinX, according to the AAMC. Of those invited to participate in Adtalem’s 2023 graduation ceremonies, 16% identified as Black/African American and 11% as LatinX. A recent study suggests that “greater Black primary care physician workforce representation is associated with better population health measures for Black individuals.”
Adtalem’s medical schools reached a 97% first-time residency attainment rate for 2022-2023 graduates [1] with placements in 29 specialties. As newly minted physicians, they will begin their graduate medical training over the coming months at programs across 45 states. They enter a job market where the US could see an estimated shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034, including shortfalls in both primary and specialty care.
Read about Match Day and meet some of Adtalem’s graduates headed to residencies.
Filling a Need for Veterinarians
Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 19 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,800 openings for veterinarians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. With 395 students invited to participate in commencement, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine could fill more than 8% of that annual need.
Veterinary medicine remains one of the least diverse professions in the U.S. Some 8% of those invited to participate in Adtalem’s veterinary school graduation identified as a race or ethnicity that is an underrepresented minority.
Inspiring Speakers
 | Ross University School of Medicine As CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Janet Donlin works closely with volunteer leaders, staff, and veterinary colleagues to advance the AVMA’s mission “to lead the profession by advocating for our members and advancing the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve animal and human health.” Watch the entire RUSVM ceremony. |
 | Ross University School of Medicine Board of Trustees member Dr. Oliver Tate Brooks is interim chief executive officer, chief medical officer, and past chief of pediatric and adolescent medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, where he also serves as the medical director of the Locke High School Wellness Centers. He is a medical director consultant for L.A. Care Health Plan, one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans. He is also past president of the National Medical Association. Watch the entire RUSM ceremony. |
 | American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine Dr. Monica Makhija, a 2007 AUC graduate, is a neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. She carries board certifications in both Epilepsy and Sleep Medicine, and her clinical and research interests are in the intersection of these two fields. She runs a specialty clinic for epilepsy patients with undiagnosed sleep disorders. In addition to research and clinical care, Dr. Makhija devotes substantial time to teaching. Watch the entire AUC ceremony. |
[1] First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2023-24 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2022-23 who were active applicants in the 2023 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
