Unpacking health disparities in diverse communities No images? Click here We Stand Firm in Advocating for Health Equity for ALL In 2023, U.S. News ranked the United States as the fifth best country in the world, based on a variety of global performance metrics. Despite this position, our health care system is plagued by a lack of adequate insurance coverage, high costs, and poor health outcomes (Source: JAMA Network 2023). Black, Latine, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+ and other minoritized communities suffer the most from health inequities, well-earned medical mistrust, and more. Representation in the medical field is crucial to dealing with these issues. Did you know that less than 1% of health care workers identify as trans or nonbinary? (Source: Association of American Medical Colleges) Moreover, according to a 2024 article by U.S. News, “51% of Black adults believe the health care system was designed to hold Black people back a great deal or fair amount.” Establishing trust is a priority, and it is equally important to ensure that everyone, regardless of their diverse identities, receives equitable health care. . . . Better Health Outcomes Start Here It’s no secret that our communities will benefit from a more diverse health care workforce. The question is...what can you do today to support this? . . . Diversifying Clinical Trials, Together “If I wanted to participate in health care the way I felt it needed to be done, I needed information and knowledge about the business of medicine to provide the highest quality care at a lower cost to the health care system.” After participating in NMF Dctr, a tuition-free program, emerging investigators can expect valuable outcomes that will enrich their health care experience, such as: Mentorship and Networking Opportunities The benefits of joining this tuition-free program are many. . . . Health Care in The News The Grit and Grind of a Non-Traditional Medical Professional NMF alumna, Dr. Anya Bazzell is bringing a new outlook to the field of health care with her fashion and lifestyle blog, “Surgery and The City." Dr. Bazzell has a wealth of experience between her journey as a non-traditional medical student and now as a newly minted attending physician. “Until there is complete equity, and I’m not sure that will ever happen, it’s more than okay to create opportunities for Black people. In fact, I think it’s a necessity,” she said. “I hope to see that increase in physician representation and therefore decrease in health inequities, because statistics show African Americans have some of the worst outcomes and health experiences – and I don’t want that for myself or for people who look like me.” . . . |