Schools like the University of Mississippi School of Medicine are trying to recruit more Black students. But they face a swell of Republican opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

The U.S. desperately needs more Black and Hispanic doctors, research shows. But financial pressures and discrimination can keep young people from even applying to med school.

Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. Some of them look to Black doctors for a sense of safety and connection, while medical schools add anti-racism training.

Many of these students are first-generation doctors with no one to turn to for advice. Finding mentors in academia is one way to help them overcome barriers and increase their odds at success.