A Brief History of Healthcare Education in HBCUs

Many look at college as a right of passage. Those years bring exciting new challenges, fun experiences, and a greater understanding of self. For many young Black students, the choices are between a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) or a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). They spend months (even years) weighing their options before deciding which school fits their ultimate goals. Why would a prospective student decide to go to an HBCU over a PWI? What do these nursing and pharmaceutical programs offer that others don't?

“In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Women like Serena Williams have found themselves battling with medical professionals to have their voices heard.”

Before establishing HBCUs, a majority of medical institutions denied admission to Black people. The first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1837, offering elementary and secondary schooling, while Spelman College became the first Black nursing school in 1881. HBCUs were created to close the gap and lessen the disparities between Black and white education. When HBCUs began creating medical programs, they allowed newly freed slaves to seek the medical attention they needed. Even by the 1950s, medical schools at PWIs had graduated less than 15% of Black physicians when there were less than 100 Black specialists in the United States. During segregation, when many places were "whites-only," Black people were still denied primary healthcare leaving them to deal with their medical needs independently.

Years later, Black people still face discrimination from healthcare professionals. In the U.S., Black women are three (3) times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Women like Serena Williams have found themselves battling with medical professionals to have their voices heard. Many Black people note that they've felt their doctors and nurses expect them to have higher pain tolerance, thus leaving them to see multiple specialists until someone finds validity in their pain. In a 2016 study from the University of Virginia, after questioning 418 medical students, they found half still believed in at least one (1) false racially bias medical claim. The study also found that medical students also believe Black people feel less pain than their white counterparts. These racial biases are a part of why HBCUs are integral to turning out more Black medical professionals. Today 24 HBCUs are offering baccalaureate-level nursing programs and 8 with pharmacy programs.

Currently, Black nurses make up nearly 8% of the workforce. Two possible reasons why this number is so low could be due to financial difficulties and the lack of community when in programs at PWIs. Prospective students can look into The National Black Nurses Association, which offers several nursing scholarships, and The Aetna Foundation. Although HBCUs' original reason became highly favored was to give Black people similar education as white people, these colleges and university' non-Black students make up about 24% of enrollment. These colleges and university programs are essential to combating the rising shortage of nurses. Historically Black Colleges and Universities will continue to help young medical professionals wade through the water of medical programs and build the future they are so excited for.