Opinion: To combat health disparities, diversify medicine

The New York Daily News ^ | March 27, 2022 | By DR. JOY HOWELL

[Oldeconomybuyer]

COVID-19 has laid bare stark health care disparities between Black and Hispanics and their white counterparts. According to the CDC, these communities have borne the brunt of the pandemic, with cases and deaths nationally exceeding their share of the population.

Here in New York, as a physician working for Weill Cornell Medicine, I witnessed this firsthand. On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where Weill Cornell Medicine is located, mortality rates from COVID-19 were lower than in other parts of the city, particularly upper Manhattan and the Bronx, historically under-resourced areas where the population is largely Black and Hispanic.

In order to change this, we must invest in diversifying the physician workforce. Research has shown the mortality rate for Black babies falls dramatically when Black doctors care for them after birth, and that cardiovascular mortality rates for Black men are improved when they see Black doctors. But there are too few physicians of color to treat the growing minority population.

As the COVID-19 persists in disproportionately affecting minority populations, it is more critical than ever that we invest in and expand pipeline programs for students from underrepresented backgrounds from early education through career. These targeted solutions can help bring our city closer to truly achieving health equity for all New Yorkers.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Howell is assistant dean for diversity and student life, vice chair for diversity in pediatrics and associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine.

[God luvs America]

Better yet- due the same thing with fat people they did or tried to do with those of us who are not vaccinated.

[BenLurkin]

Research has shown the mortality rate for Black babies falls dramatically when Black doctors care for them after birth, and that cardiovascular mortality rates for Black men are improved when they see Black doctors.

Bull.

[Libloather]

...there are too few physicians of color to treat the growing minority population.

Maybe they're all trying to be lawyers who no longer have to define 'woman'.

[A Navy Vet]

"In order to change this, we must invest in diversifying the physician workforce. Research has shown the mortality rate for Black babies falls dramatically when Black doctors care for them after birth, and that cardiovascular mortality rates for Black men are improved when they see Black doctors."

Wow. Not the Babylon Bee?

[hanamizu]

Yes, we need affirmative-action programs for fields like medicine, engineering, airline pilots, everything! What could go wrong?

As I understand it, the NHS in Britain is currently ‘blessed’ with a very ‘diverse’ medical staff. Britons love the improvements diversity has brought them.
/s

[Pollard]

Here in New York, as a physician working for Weill Cornell Medicine, I witnessed this firsthand. On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where Weill Cornell Medicine is located, mortality rates from COVID-19 were lower than in other parts of the city, particularly upper Manhattan and the Bronx, historically under-resourced areas where the population is largely Black and Hispanic.

Move Weill Cornell Medicine right into the heart of the Bronx and give away your services for free. Problem solved.

[Hambone 1934]

They obviously never went to KILLER KING HOSPITAL in California

[ealgeone]

Yet it will be believed and parroted by the Left and by blacks.

[oldplayer]

But, but, but . . . I thought we learned that association without proof of causation is just fake science. This was the mantra the media used for ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
I wonder if FAT doctors could better help FAT patients.

[Species8472]

No, De-regulate medicine!

[BenLurkin]

Ouch! The first Mrs. Lurkin’s mother worked there. Many years ago.

[ronniesgal]

so he/she wants segregated medicine.
Blacks see black doctors, whites see white doctors.
Everybody else has to decide if they are Sharks or Jets.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

COVID-19 has laid bare stark health care disparities between Black and Hispanics and their white counterparts. According to the CDC, these communities have borne the brunt of the pandemic, with cases and deaths nationally exceeding their share of the population.

In other news, Covid-19 is endemic among blacks in sub-Saharan Africa - i.e., Covid is old news in Africa - and (relatively speaking) hardly anyone in sub-Saharan Africa died of Covid.

Blacks in Africa did way, way better than the people living in similar climatic and economic conditions in South America. And nobody has explained that - other than that American blacks are richer (fatter and, on average, have lived longer) than African blacks.

. . . so exactly whose fault is it that blacks in the US (and also in South America) fared so poorly compared to blacks in Africa????

[stylin19a]

How about it. so he’s saying white doctors suck?

[Nifster]

I want the best surgeon around. Period. Full stop

[RetiredArmy]

So now, if two people come in for surgery and one is white and the other Hispanic or black, they chose the black or Hispanic person instead of the white because of race? Every damned thing these leftists want today is by race. Funny, they are cutting their own nuts off because the grand majority of them are white. So, maybe they will be one of those dreaded whites who will die so that another race can live!! But some way or the other I just feel, they will find a way to get around that.

[Tacrolimus1mg]

Agreed. They didn’t cite a study, which is a gigantic red flag to a random claim, which I’ve heard for at least a couple of years. Genetics plays a huge role in our health, and unfortunately, some genetic combinations are better than others. It’s why doctors ask for family health history.

What a colossal fvcking racist pig the author is.

[GnuThere]

That’s fine, Joy.
Make med schools 50% carved-out affirmative action spots, as long as I can see the other half.
And do away with those racist MCAT scores!