Diversity And Inclusion

Race parity in the science and health care workforce remains a challenge, but opportunities for reform exist at the trainee, faculty and leadership level, according to a speaker at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Efforts by IDWeek’s program committee to ensure gender equity during the conference led to a more than 13 percentage-point increase in the proportion of speaker slots filled by women since 2013, according to an analysis.

Physicians and patients continue to be adversely affected by racial, ethnic and sex discrimination, but leaders in health care can help drive change, according to a keynote speaker at the virtual Women in Medicine Summit.

Gary Y. Chu, OD, MPH, FAAO, highlighted the need to create a sense of belonging on the path toward inclusion and equity, during an overview of the state of diversity in optometry at the American Academy of Optometry virtual meeting.

The American Optometric Association announced the development of a task force to create opportunities for doctors of racial and ethnic groups that are historically underrepresented in optometry practice.

In the United States, rates of COVID-19 were 1.4 times higher than the national average in counties with higher-than-average Black and Hispanic populations, according to recent data.

Fear of racial bias appeared to alter encounters between Black veterans receiving mental health services and their health care provider, according to study results published in Patient Education and Counseling.

American Association for Cancer Research today released its first Cancer Disparities Progress Report, which aims to raise awareness of the substantial effect of cancer on racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations.

Many older adults who are referred to home health care after hospitalization do not receive it, with Black and Hispanic patients receiving lower rates of care, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

Leon McDougle, MD, MPH, recently named president of the National Medical Association, said he wants to “improve the racism-related unequal health and health care outcomes that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”