Federal Grant Reviewer and Scientist 🌍 Grant Writing Consultant with an unapologetic passion for community-based design and genuine community engagement.
Not to mention medical curricula are focused on the average white patient. The other cases or data that relate to minorities are not on our test for certification or licensure. That's ten fewer flashcards to learn, and an entire population deleted from our brains after the lesson is over. We even see this in the drug dose gender gap, where lack of females in research trials leads to unforeseen drug reactions. I've seen firsthand how medical programs unknowingly make it difficult for minority students to thrive because of their implicit bias. Do not put us on the cover of your medical program pamphlet but then shun us when we need more support or don't match your culture. Some of us didn't even have access to a laptop and lived our days and nights in the library. Some of us took the bus to get home and to get to our clinical rotations. Minority students in medical programs tend to group together because we know we can be transparent with each other about our struggles. A serious overhaul needs to be done to address the lack of representation in the medical field.
Racism in healthcare puts Black women’s lives at risk. In fact, only 5.7% of U.S. physicians are Black. And hair-based discrimination occurs everywhere from doctors offices to schools. Still today, Black women face an uphill battle when wearing natural hairstyles. But studies show that doctor diversity saves lives! Not to mention, diversity training in medical school reduces racial bias and discrimination, equips doctors with practical knowledge, and again, saves lives. ✏️ Colbie Christian via Twitter
