Increasing racial and ethnic diversity within the health care workforce is a critical component of achieving equity in health care delivery. This study examined longitudinal patterns in Black student enrollment across U.S. pharmacy, medical, and dental education programs; evaluated cross-disciplinary differences in enrollment levels; and assessed how closely institutional enrollment of Black students corresponded with state demographic distributions in 2010 and 2019. For the purposes of this analysis, professional students were defined as individuals pursuing MD, PharmD, or DMD/DDS degrees. Fall enrollment data from 2010 to 2019 were collected from national professional education organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American Dental Association. Changes in the proportion of Black students over time were calculated, along with average enrollment levels across institutions. Schools were evaluated based on the degree to which Black student enrollment reflected the percentage of Black residents within their state. Nonparametric statistical tests, including the Kruskal–Wallis H test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as well as chi-square analyses, were used to compare enrollment patterns and institutional ratings. Over the study period, pharmacy and medical programs demonstrated measurable growth in Black student enrollment, while dental programs showed no significant change. In 2019, both pharmacy and medical schools enrolled a higher proportion of Black students than dental schools. Furthermore, the share of pharmacy and medical institutions classified as underperforming in Black student representation declined between 2010 and 2019.A health professions workforce that mirrors the demographic composition of the communities it serves is essential for improving access to care and addressing persistent disparities. Achieving this goal will require deliberate, sustained institutional commitments to equity-focused recruitment, admissions, and retention practices aimed at increasing Black student participation in health professions education.
