Not Quite Like the Pope Apologizing for the Inquisition...

...But close.

Today, the AMA issued a formal apology for its longstanding history of discrimination against African-American physicians. According to an AP story,

The apology comes more than 40 years after AMA delegates denounced policies at state and local medical societies dating to the 1800s that barred blacks. For decades, AMA delegates resisted efforts to get them to speak out forcefully against discrimination or to condemn the smaller medical groups that historically have had a big role in shaping AMA policy.

The AMA's apology is evidently intended to foster greater minority representation among physicians. African Americans currently represent approximately 13% of the US population but less than 3% of the nation's 1 million doctors or medical students.