3 research outputs found
Family Medicine’s Role in Addressing the Intersections of Redlining and Climate Change
Redlining, the practice of discriminating against specific neighborhoods based on race and socioeconomic status, leads to persistent environmental hazards and socioeconomic inequalities that have lasting adverse health effects on their populations. Health disparities are further exacerbated through the concentration of environmental hazards, as well as the escalating impact of climate change, which poses an increased risk of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, heat-related illness, infectious diseases, food insecurity, and socioeconomic difficulties in redline neighborhoods.
This paper examines the interplay of redlining, climate change, and health disparities, with an emphasis on the enduring consequences for these marginalized communities. Through our research, we hope to foster a more equitable and just society for all by making an urgent call to action to dismantle the historical legacy of redlining and its health impacts, including climate change, for marginalized populations. Our research found that family medicine physicians, as well as other interdisciplinary collaborators and stakeholders, are pivotal to the development of comprehensive and equitable solutions for promoting health equity and resilience, as well as implementing strategies to mitigate these climate-related health issues through equitable healthcare access for all populations
Unmasking Structural Racism in U.S. Medical Education: Advancing Equity for Underrepresented Medical Students
The COVID pandemic cast a harsh light on the structural and systemic health inequalities that exist in American society and in U.S. medical education. Black and Brown communities were disproportionately affected, and the pandemic highlighted the need for a diverse physician and healthcare workforce. Both the lack of equitable, high-quality healthcare in underrepresented communities and the obstacles that students who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM) experience in medical school are direct consequences of the structural racism that flourishes in U.S. medical schools and healthcare institutions. In this article, we explain structural racism and how it has manifested itself in medical education, including the lack of diversity among faculty and leadership, implicit biases and stereotypes about people of color, and discriminatory language used in evaluations of URiM students. We conclude with potential solutions for addressing structural racism in medical education. These include increasing diversity among faculty and leadership, implementing antiracist curricula, and providing mentorship and support for URiM students. Ultimately, we aim to promote discussion and action to eliminate structural racism in medical education in America
Stress and Coping among American Indian and Alaska Natives in the Age of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic compounds stressors of daily life among American Indian/Alaska Natives. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 among American Indian/Alaska Natives and non-Hispanic whites by examining depressive symptoms, overall stress, resilience, and coping, utilizing the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Of the 207 individuals participating in this study, 109 identified as American Indian/Alaska Native and 98 as non-Hispanic white. Despite demographic similarities, American Indian/Alaska Natives exhibited more stressors related to COVID-19 as well as higher depressive symptom scores compared to non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore, COVID-19 stressors were more positively correlated with depressive symptoms for American Indian/Alaska Natives than non-Hispanic whites. For American Indian/Alaska Natives, the predominant coping processes identified were planful problem solving, escape-avoidance, and self-controlling. This study provides data to support programs and policies centered on improving the psychosocial health for American Indians/Alaska Natives and decreasing COVID-19-related health disparities