What Are Some of the Critical Issues That Need to be Addressed ? You can ’ t talk about health disparities without also talking about racism in medicine . Until now , that ’ s been a subject no one really wanted to discuss , but it ’ s an underlying issue we must understand .
This is a deep , multigenerational issue in the Black community . More than 100 years ago , the speculum was created by a gynecologist who did experimental surgeries on enslaved Black women . In my parents ’ lifetime , the Tuskegee research study followed the lives of Black men with syphilis without ever giving them a diagnosis or treatment . The Black community ’ s mistrust of medicine has its roots in these and many other acts of racism .
That past can ’ t be ignored if we want to establish trust . And , unless we earn the trust of our diverse communities , the gap in health care will continue . We have to constantly work on rebuilding the trust between doctors and patients to break down the barriers that affect health care .
How Can Medical Education Help Address Health Disparities ? Our family medicine residency at Latterman Family Health Center emphasizes the importance of knowing and responding to the needs of our community .
Our family medicine residents attend community provider meetings so they can get to know other service organizations and better understand community needs . They ’ ve created a community advisory committee to encourage conversations on a neighborhood level . That effort has led to a mentoring program at the local high school , funded with help from the Beckwith Institute of UPMC , that ’ s designed to introduce students to the many career paths available in health care . Food insecurity also is a major concern for many patients , so we partner with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and 412 Food Rescue to offer thrive boxes . We have to be aware of the social determinants of health so we can break down those barriers to care .
I ’ m very excited and encouraged by the many partnerships that continue to develop between UPMC and local communities on health disparities .
How Can Partnerships Bring About Change ? I was installed as president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians just as the pandemic hit . In that role , I quickly learned how much politics impacts what happens on a community level during a time like this . I don ’ t think the average person knows how influential it can be to talk with local leaders .
Health doesn ’ t just happen in a doctor ’ s office . If we ’ re going to address a health crisis like asthma , for example , we need to look at issues like poor housing and air quality . That means getting county and state support . It ’ s critical to know and interact with the key players politically because that is how decisions are made . Health equity must have a diversity inclusion component . We can do everything that we want on a microlevel in our offices , but unless we also influence policy , we really won ’ t see change .
I am seeing open and honest discussions happening in medicine like never before . In my own role as a family doctor at UPMC , I feel like it ’ s my duty to keep pushing the envelope and keep trying to make it better for the people who come after me .
Health disparities are preventable and disproportionate health conditions that exist among all ages in a certain population . The first step to prevent health disparities is by learning about them . UPMC is committed to driving health education and programming , partnering with our community , and training health care providers to ensure all individuals and families have the opportunity to live healthier lifestyles .
For more information , visit UPMC . com / HealthDisparities .