To the editor: Michael Hiltzik’s latest column clearly diagnoses the difficulty (“Justice Department attack on UCLA and other med schools shows it has no idea what makes a good doctor,” Might 20). Cultural competency and neighborhood connection are on the coronary heart of what makes nice medical doctors and builds belief with sufferers. Ask the hundreds of thousands of Californians trying to find physicians who can communicate their language, perceive their points and supply efficient healthcare.
The pipeline was constructed round a slender picture of who medical doctors are and the place they arrive from. Tutorial steering, monetary help and admissions techniques don’t absolutely embody Black and Latino college students. Exclusionary insurance policies will deepen the large doctor scarcity hurting our communities.
Each certified scholar denied an opportunity to check medication is a loss. The well being of our communities is determined by our means to take away these limitations, so California younger folks can comply with their goals and practice and develop into the medical doctors we so desperately want.
Seciah Aquino, Gardena
This author is government director of Latino Coalition for a Wholesome California, an advocacy group for Latine well being fairness.
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To the editor: I write in appreciation of Hiltzik’s column concerning the cluelessness exhibited by the Trump administration in going after the admission practices of the David Geffen College of Medication at UCLA. The Trump officers appear to suppose that take a look at scores are the one metric that issues in admissions decision-making. Hiltzik is rightly crucial of that method.
Having had a profession as a university historical past professor and having sat on numerous admission committees, I need to state that I’ve learn multiple software the place the take a look at rating might need been excessive, however the essay was vacuous.
This commentary is along with any questions of primary justice in policing admissions to prestigious applications.
Glenna Matthews, Laguna Seaside
