Loyola med school opens doors to more immigrants

Loyola University’s medical school is accepting applications from immigrants living in the country without legal permission.

The Loyola Stritch School of Medicine says it made the decision in part because it wants to foster diversity in the medical workforce to better serve patients in a country with a large immigrant population.

The school says such applicants “are often bicultural, bilingual, and possess insight into the immigrant experience.”

A statement posted on the school’s website says the decision was also in response to President Barack Obama’s announcement last year of a program that puts off deportation for many immigrants brought here as children but who lack legal residency status.

The school called on other centers of medical education to do the same.

Loyola is pursuing financial aid options for such applicants.