Representation Matters: Black Doctors Help Increase Life Expectancy and Reduce Mortality

We’ve known that having a healthcare provider that looks like you is important in creating trusting relationships and improving the health outcomes of marginalized communities. Now, a new study has found that simply having Black doctors in your county—whether you receive direct care from them or not—is associated with longer life expectancy and lower mortality among Black community members. 

The study, published last week by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Association of American Medical Colleges, analyzed 1,618 counties with at least one Black primary care physician in one of three years. The researchers found that the more Black doctors a county had, the higher the life expectancy for Black residents. In fact, for every 10% increase in Black primary care physicians, life expectancy increased by one month, and there was a 1.2% decrease in disparity of all-cause mortality between Black and White community members. 

The groundbreaking study officially documents what we already know and demonstrates that  there is a dire need for more Black and Brown people in the healthcare workforce. This study punctuates previous research that showed Black babies are more likely to survive when cared for by Black doctors. Black representation in healthcare is undeniably relevant to promoting the health of communities, especially Black community members. 

Living in a county where Black doctors work and thrive “may be a marker for living in a community that better supports Black lives,” said John Snyder, one of the study’s lead authors.

However, even within Washington, 4.32% of the population identifies as Black, yet only 2%, or 422, of active physicians identify as Black. On the national level, despite making up 12.8% of the population, only 5% of active physicians identify as Black. This proportion has increased by only 4 percentage points over the past 120 years. 

The Tubman Center for Health & Freedom’s commitment to providing high-quality jobs to 60-100 practitioners from the community is a significant step towards increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce and addressing health disparities in the Puget Sound region. Additionally, at Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, we provide opportunities for youth from the global majority to learn more about the healthcare field and create new pathways for future healthcare professions. 

Representation is vital to the health of our communities and our people, and Tubman Health will continue efforts to create career pathways and reduce barriers into healthcare professions.