Commentary: funding the diversity programs of the Title VII Health Professions Training grants: an urgent need

Federal funding to all Title VII programs has been reduced in recent years, and the Health Professions Training for Diversity Programs have fared disproportionately poorly. And, for FY2009, the administration recommends total elimination of all Title VII funding. Historically black health professions schools are in particular need of Title VII support to successfully pursue their missions of education, research, care, and service. Such schools generally have a legacy of undercapitalization, modest annual revenue sources, and a relatively low tuition revenue base in comparison with nonminority health professions schools. Yet, they occupy a unique niche in supplying health professionals to underserved communities and educating minority students, and they should be considered a national resource. Without annual support from Title VII health professions training programs, the affected institutions would face severe financial challenges to maintaining their academic programs, including support of faculty, students, and research. The authors, who are the presidents, respectively, of Morehouse School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College, therefore urge Congress and the administration to restore Title VII funding to the dollars 300 million level.This commentary is part of a theme issue of Academic Medicine on the Title VII health professions training programs.