Downstate Ranks #13 for Minority Health Science Doctoral Degrees
By Office of the President | Dec 3, 2024
Congratulations, Downstate! I am proud to share that, as Diverse Issues in Higher Education reported, Downstate ranks #13 nationally for awarding doctoral-level health science
degrees to minority students, underscoring our commitment to inclusivity and our vital
role in empowering students to thrive in healthcare.
This impressive ranking reflects an in-depth analysis conducted by the Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race, based on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the healthcare sector will create over two million new jobs between 2021 and 2031, fueled by an aging population and increased demand for healthcare services.
Occupations typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree, such as physicians and surgeons, are expected to grow by about 13 percent over the same period, faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth underscores the importance of training a diverse healthcare workforce to meet the evolving needs of our communities. Downstate’s commitment to awarding doctoral-level health science degrees to minority students aligns with these employment trends, ensuring that the future healthcare workforce reflects the diversity of the populations it serves.
Thank you to the faculty, students, and staff whose passion and perseverance have made this recognition possible in cultivating an inclusive, equitable environment that propels Downstate’s leadership in health sciences education.