The racism that persists in the medical community is ostracizing Black people, particularly women, from pursuing a career in the field. The lack of diversity and inclusion in the medical providers directly and negatively impacts Black and minority patients and their health.
Only 2 percent of active physicians are Black women, and that comes with some very real consequences. Here, dig into the great benefit of Black providers, and how you can help drive change.
For example, half of white medical students and residents actually believe Black people have thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than white people, according to a study published in the. Perceptions like this can be incredibly damaging to the care that Black patients receive — not to mention further the systemic racism that already exists in the industry.
Then, Dr. Irobunda went home and cried. "People don't realize how much that hurts," she explains. "This is who I am. I was born with this skin." On top of a wealth of professional experience, the personal experiences of Black providers may resonate with Black patients. "When represented in leadership roles, Black providers bring diverse perspectives to the decision-making table of healthcare facilities, which directly impacts health outcomes."
She says she hears these concerns — and, to this extent, suggests that one of the biggest benefits of diversity in healthcare is having voices who can make changes at *all* levels of the system, making sure there's diversity training and other structures in place to address these racial issues.
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