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Abstract
Kidney disease has disparate effects on racial and ethnic minority groups, who have higher rates of chronic kidney disease and generally poorer outcomes. These disparate rates and outcomes have been attributed to social determinants of health; however, these social determinants of health are related to governmental and societal structural barriers that have created inequities not only in kidney disease, but also in other chronic diseases and in maternal/fetal health outcomes. The societal barriers to health equity include income inequality, inadequate education, environmental injustice, mass incarceration, and the enduring effects of the legacy of slavery. The approach to reducing disparities in kidney outcomes must be viewed through the lens of social justice to address these societal barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kevin Tucker
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
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Evaluating Research Centers in Minority Institutions: Framework, Metrics, Best Practices, and Challenges. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17228373. [PMID: 33198272 PMCID: PMC7696594 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17228373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The NIH-funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program is currently funding 18 academic institutions to strengthen the research environment and contribution to health disparities research. The purpose of this multiphase mixed-methods study was to establish a uniform evaluation framework for demonstrating the collective success of this research consortium. Methods included discussions of aims and logic models at the RCMI Evaluators' Workshop, a literature review to inform an evaluation conceptual framework, and a case study survey to obtain evaluation-related information and metrics. Ten RCMIs participated in the workshop and 14 submitted responses to the survey. The resultant RCMI Evaluation Conceptual Model presents a practical ongoing approach to document RCMIs' impacts on health disparities. Survey results identified 37 common metrics under four primary categories. Evaluation challenges were issues related to limited human resources, data collection, decision-making, defining metrics, cost-sharing, and revenue-generation. There is a need for further collaborative efforts across RCMI sites to engage program leadership and community stakeholders in addressing the identified evaluation challenges and measurement. Program leadership should be engaged to apply the Evaluation Conceptual Framework and common metrics to allow for valid inter-institutional comparisons and consortium-wide evaluations. Stakeholders could ensure evaluation metrics are used to facilitate community impacts.
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Campbell KM, Corral I, Infante Linares JL, Tumin D. Projected Estimates of African American Medical Graduates of Closed Historically Black Medical Schools. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2015220. [PMID: 32816033 PMCID: PMC7441360 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE There continue to be low numbers of underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, in academic medicine. Historically Black medical colleges and universities are major sources of training for medical school graduates who are African American or who belong to other underrepresented minority groups. Several historically Black medical schools were closed during the period surrounding the 1910 Flexner report. The implications of these school closures with regard to the number of African American medical school graduates have not been fully examined. OBJECTIVE To examine the consequences associated with the closure of historically Black medical schools for the number of African American medical school graduates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This observational economic evaluation used steady expansion and rapid expansion models to estimate the consequences associated with the closure of historically Black medical schools for the number of African American medical school graduates. The numbers of graduates from 13 historically Black medical schools that are now closed were obtained through historical records. Data on historically Black medical schools that are currently open were obtained from school-specific reports and reports published by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The study focused on projected estimates of outcomes from the hypothetical continued operation and expansion of 5 closed historically Black medical schools that were included in the Flexner report: Flint Medical College of New Orleans University, Knoxville Medical College, Leonard Medical School of Shaw University, Louisville National Medical College, and the University of West Tennessee College of Medicine and Surgery-Memphis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcome was the estimate of the number of African American students who would have graduated from historically Black medical schools that were closed during the period surrounding the 1910 Flexner report. RESULTS Among the 5 historically Black medical schools that were closed, the estimated mean number of graduates per year was 5.27 students at Flint Medical College, 2.60 students at Knoxville Medical College, 11.06 students at Leonard Medical School, 4.17 students at Louisville National Medical College, and 6.74 students at the University of West Tennessee. If the 5 closed historically Black medical schools had remained open, the steady expansion and rapid expansion models indicated that these schools might have collectively provided training to an additional 27 773 graduates and 35 315 graduates, respectively, between their year of closure and 2019. In the analysis of Leonard Medical School and the University of West Tennessee only, the steady expansion and rapid expansion models indicated that these 2 schools would have provided training to an additional 10 587 graduates and 13 403 graduates, respectively, between their year of closure and 2019. An extrapolation based on the racial and ethnic self-identification of current graduates of historically Black medical schools indicated that if these closed schools had remained open, the number of graduating African American physicians might have increased by 355 individuals (29%) in 2019 alone. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE To increase the number of African American medical school graduates, consideration should be given to creating medical education programs at historically Black colleges and universities. Such programs may start with small enrollment but could have positive consequences for the diversity of the physician workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall M. Campbell
- Research Group for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine, Division of Academic Affairs, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Irma Corral
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Jhojana L. Infante Linares
- Office Data Analysis and Strategy, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Dmitry Tumin
- Division of Academic Affairs, Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
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Rivers R, Norris KC, Hui G, Halpern-Felsher B, Dodge-Francis C, Guerrero LR, Golshan A, Brinkley K, Tran K, McLaughlin S, Antolin N, Yoshida T, Caffey-Fleming DE, Agodoa L. The NIDDK High School Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons. Ethn Dis 2020; 30:5-14. [PMID: 31969778 DOI: 10.18865/ed.30.1.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing the pipeline of aspiring minority biomedical/health professionals is a crucial component to diversifying the health science workforce. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) created the High School Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (HS-STEP-UP) to provide introductory biomedical/biobehavioral research experiences to promising high school students, who are traditionally underrepresented in the biomedical/biobehavioral sciences. The program reaches out to African American and Lationo/Hispanic students, as well as Native American students and students from the United States Territories. Methods HS-STEP-UP provides a stimulating, rigorous 8- to 10-week summer research experience for a national cohort of ~100 high school students each year; the experience is organized through four National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded coordinating centers. Typically, the program receives about 300 applications a year and about 100 students are accepted. Applicants are reviewed and selected based upon their online application that includes: a high school transcript, list of classes and extracurricular activities, two recommendation letters and a personal statement. The program culminates with a symposium at the NIH where students present their research and attend workshops and seminars. Results For the 2017 and 2018 HS-STEP-UP programs, the classes included 193 students; 67% were females and 82% were underrepresented minorities. Forty eight percent of students reported a family income <$37,000/year, and 23% were from first generation college families. Ninety percent were very satisfied or satisfied with their research topic and 94% rated the end of the year symposium at NIH as excellent or very good. Only 65% were very satisfied or satisfied with their mentor matching, and 21% stated they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their mentor. All the students successfully completed their summer research projects and presented their research abstracts at the symposium. All participating seniors reported attending college. Conclusion HS-STEP-UP has been highly successful in recruiting traditionally underrepresented students and supporting underrepresented HS students with a rewarding introductory experience to research. Students are overall satisfied with the program, but mentor matching needs more attention. Longer-term follow-up is needed to determine how participating in STEP UP impacts their decisions to participate in the biomedical workforce in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keith C Norris
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - George Hui
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI
| | - Bonnie Halpern-Felsher
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Carolee Dodge-Francis
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Lourdes R Guerrero
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Aneesa Golshan
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI
| | | | - Kira Tran
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Sheila McLaughlin
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Noe Antolin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Tiffany Yoshida
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI
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Silver JK, Bean AC, Slocum C, Poorman JA, Tenforde A, Blauwet CA, Kirch RA, Parekh R, Amonoo HL, Zafonte R, Osterbur D. Physician Workforce Disparities and Patient Care: A Narrative Review. Health Equity 2019; 3:360-377. [PMID: 31312783 PMCID: PMC6626972 DOI: 10.1089/heq.2019.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ensuring the strength of the physician workforce is essential to optimizing patient care. Challenges that undermine the profession include inequities in advancement, high levels of burnout, reduced career duration, and elevated risk for mental health problems, including suicide. This narrative review explores whether physicians within four subpopulations represented in the workforce at levels lower than predicted from their numbers in the general population—women, racial and ethnic minorities in medicine, sexual and gender minorities, and people with disabilities—are at elevated risk for these problems, and if present, how these problems might be addressed to support patient care. In essence, the underlying question this narrative review explores is as follows: Do physician workforce disparities affect patient care? While numerous articles and high-profile reports have examined the relationship between workforce diversity and patient care, to our knowledge, this is the first review to examine the important relationship between diversity-related workforce disparities and patient care. Methods: Five databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, and EBSCO Discovery Service) were searched by a librarian. Additional resources were included by authors, as deemed relevant to the investigation. Results: The initial database searches identified 440 potentially relevant articles. Articles were categorized according to subtopics, including (1) underrepresented physicians and support for vulnerable patient populations; (2) factors that could exacerbate the projected physician deficit; (3) methods of addressing disparities among underrepresented physicians to support patient care; or (4) excluded (n=155). The authors identified another 220 potentially relevant articles. Of 505 potentially relevant articles, 199 (39.4%) were included in this review. Conclusions: This report demonstrates an important gap in the literature regarding the impact of physician workforce disparities and their effect on patient care. This is a critical public health issue and should be urgently addressed in future research and considered in clinical practice and policy decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie K Silver
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Allison C Bean
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Chloe Slocum
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie A Poorman
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adam Tenforde
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Cheri A Blauwet
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca A Kirch
- National Patient Advocate Foundation, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ranna Parekh
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,American Psychiatric Association, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Hermioni L Amonoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ross Zafonte
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David Osterbur
- Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Schor NF. Women in medical school leadership positions: Implications for research. Ann Neurol 2019; 85:789-792. [PMID: 30938857 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nina F Schor
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
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Strategies for enhancing research in aging health disparities by mentoring diverse investigators. J Clin Transl Sci 2017; 1:167-175. [PMID: 28856013 PMCID: PMC5573262 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2016.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) program was launched in 1997. Its goal is to build infrastructure to improve the well-being of older racial/ethnic minorities by identifying mechanisms to reduce health disparities. Methods Its primary objectives are to mentor faculty in research addressing the health of minority elders and to enhance the diversity of the workforce that conducts elder health research by prioritizing the mentorship of underrepresented diverse scholars. Results Through 2015, 12 centers received RCMAR awards and provided pilot research funding and mentorship to 361 scholars, 70% of whom were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. A large majority (85%) of RCMAR scholars from longstanding centers continue in academic research. Another 5% address aging and other health disparities through nonacademic research and leadership roles in public health agencies. Conclusions Longitudinal, team-based mentoring, cross-center scholar engagement, and community involvement in scholar development are important contributors to RCMAR’s success.
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Rattani A. The Role of Historically Black Medical Schools in Expanding the Purview of Bioethics. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2016; 16:33-35. [PMID: 26982921 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2016.1145292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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Reid-Lombardo KM, Glass CC, Marcus SG, Liesinger J, Jones DB. Workforce shortage for general surgeons: results from the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Track (SSAT) surgeon shortage survey. J Gastrointest Surg 2014; 18:2061-73. [PMID: 25245765 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-014-2636-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population shifts among surgeons and the general populous will contribute to a predicted general surgeon shortage by 2020. The Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract designed and conducted a survey to assess perceptions and possible solutions from important stakeholders: practicing surgeons of the society, general surgery residents, and medical students. RESULTS Responses from 1,208 participants: 658 practicing surgeons, 183 general surgery residents, and 367 medical students, were analyzed. There was a strong perception of a current and future surgeon shortage. The majority of surgeons (59.3 %) and residents (64.5 %) perceived a current general surgeon shortage, while 28.6 % of medical students responded the same. When asked of a perceived general surgery shortage in 20 years, 82.4, 81.4, and 51 % said "yes", respectively. There were generational differences in responses to contributors and solutions for the impending shortage. Surgeons placed a high value on improving reimbursement, tort reform, and surgeon burnout, while residents held a strong interest in a national loan forgiveness program and improving lifestyle barriers. CONCLUSION Our survey offers insight into possible solutions to ward off a surgeon shortage that should be addressed with programmatic changes in residency training and by reform of the national health care system.
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Thomas B, Manusov EG, Wang A, Livingston H. Contributors of black men's success in admission to and graduation from medical school. ACADEMIC MEDICINE : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 2011; 86:892-900. [PMID: 21617511 DOI: 10.1097/acm.0b013e31821d6f3d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine characteristics and individual experiences that contribute to black men's success in being admitted to and graduating from medical school. METHOD In 2010, one of the authors, a black man, interviewed 10 black male medical students enrolled at Florida State University College of Medicine and 3 black male physicians associated with that school, using consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze the data. The investigators recorded and transcribed the interviews, coded them to determine themes, and identified an overarching theoretical construct. RESULTS The authors identified six broad contributors to successful admission to and completion of medical school: social support, education, exposure to the field of medicine, group identity, faith, and social responsibility. The six categories were subsequently grouped into four major themes: educational experiences, exposure to medicine, psychosocial-cultural experiences, and personal attributes and individual perceptions. The metaphor of a table (success) with four legs (four major themes) illustrates the complex dynamics that contribute to success. CONCLUSIONS The success of black men and the factors that contribute to that success guided this study. The results reinforced the conclusion that success for black men is achieved via a balance between educational experiences, exposure to medicine, psychosocial-cultural experiences, and personal attributes and individual perceptions. This information can be used by medical schools to strengthen their outreach programs, provide a theoretical construct for discussion and research, and generate questions for future quantitative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Thomas
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, USA
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