(bouncy techno music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

(ambient techno music) Diversity at U.S. medical schools has merely inched forward in the past 40 years.

And underrepresented students still face countless barriers to getting a medical degree.

- The very first day of class, we're all in the class and there must be 170 of us.

And there are no African-Americans at all.

- [Starla] Our medical schools are struggling to enroll a diverse class of students.

In nearly four decades the needle has only budged a few percentage points.

So why is it taking so long for med schools to enroll students that reflect the diversity of the patients they serve?

- [Leo] And it's not for lack of talent or ability, it's for lack of opportunity.

- Morales says the problem starts way before med school.

Factors like an applicant's school district and zip code will affect their access to higher quality education.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Crosscut series "Hidden Barriers" examines inequity in our healthcare systems.

Watch the full episodes at Crosscut.com.

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