The scientific community is best equipped to identify the resources needed to find answers to pressing medical problems. Understandably, scientists have discharged this responsibility largely by highlighting the financial and facilities resources required to keep pace with modern scientific opportunities. And scientists lament loudly, as they should, that available resources are insufficient to exploit the unprecedented opportunities within easy reach of contemporary science. However, the scientific community has been insufficiently strident in highlighting the inadequacy in another critical resource requirement, namely, racial/ethnic diversity in the scientific work force. Here too, spectacular opportunities exist for finding solutions to the most pressing medical problems of the United States, if only we could secure more of the essential resources now in short supply.
The reasons for achieving greater racial/ethnic diversity among scientists are many. At the top of the list, of course, is the simple matter of justice and equity. However, there is ...
