Med school enrollment, heart disease, Palantir: Morning Rounds
The enrollment in medical school is on the rise, with more than 100,000 individuals enrolled in M.D. programs for the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks the first time total enrollment has reached this high, following a 5.3% increase in applicants from the previous year. The majority of newly enrolled students are women, making it the seventh consecutive year that women have outnumbered men in terms of applicants, matriculants, and total enrollment. However, the increase in matriculants has been larger for men than women for the third year in a row.
There has been a decrease in applicants and matriculants with parents who have lower levels of education or work in service-related jobs for the fourth consecutive year. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has changed its methodology for collecting race and ethnicity data, so comparisons to previous years are not available. However, there was a noticeable drop in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students after the Supreme Court banned the consideration of race in admissions in 2023.
In other news, a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that women with uterine fibroids may have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease compared to those without fibroids. The study analyzed insurance claims data for over 2.7 million premenopausal women and found that after 10 years, 5.4% of women with fibroids experienced a cardiovascular event compared to 3% of women without fibroids. The reasons behind this increased risk are not yet known, but similarities in biological mechanisms between fibroids and cardiovascular disease may be at play.
Physician Krutika Kuppalli discusses the challenges of dealing with patients who hold strong anti-science or anti-vaccine beliefs in a new First Opinion essay. The rise of anti-science rhetoric has made routine care a daunting task, leading to emotional tolls on clinicians. Kuppalli emphasizes the need for action to address this issue and protect patient health.
Furthermore, Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has highlighted the importance of prevention in chronic diseases. While the U.S. is focusing on prevention strategies, Slovenia has been prioritizing prevention in its health system for decades. The country’s medical training emphasizes early detection of chronic disease symptoms and offers lifestyle coaching and counseling programs for at-risk individuals.
These updates in medical school enrollment, uterine fibroids research, challenges in dealing with anti-science rhetoric, and prevention strategies in healthcare highlight the ongoing developments and challenges in the field of medicine and healthcare. Stay informed with the latest news and updates in the health and medical industry.
