Parental educational background and residency training selection of minority and nonminority medical students.

The subject of background variables influential in the choice of postgraduate medical specialty training has been described in numerous papers. Few, if any, have examined the influential patterns in minority students' residency training selection when compared with nonminority students. No studies reviewed examined the differential patterns that may have an impact on specialty selection in these subgroups, especially in regard to maternal and paternal educational status. This study analyzes the interrelationship between minority and nonminority medical students, their parental educational background, and selection of postgraduate specialty, and suggests that parental educational background be investigated further as a predicative indicator of medical student specialty career selection.