Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study led by Princeton economist Janet Currie reveals that Black mothers are 20% more likely than white mothers to receive cesarean sections, even when their medical risk levels are identical. The research, which analyzed nearly one million births across 68 hospitals in New Jersey, found the disparity was most pronounced among low-risk pregnancies—suggesting that many of these surgeries may be medically unnecessary.To eliminate patient preference as a factor, researchers focused on unscheduled C-sections performed during labor emergencies. They also compared outcomes among patients treated by the same doctors at the same hospitals. The racial gap persisted, indicating that…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a controversial step by removing numerous web pages dedicated to ensuring diversity in clinical trials. This action follows the Trump administration’s recent ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, sparking concern in the medical research community.The purge has affected a wide range of materials, including draft guidance on clinical trial diversity and discussion papers from various FDA centers. These resources were instrumental in addressing the long-standing issue of underrepresentation of certain populations in medical studies.The removal of these pages is particularly significant given the FDA’s June 2024 draft…
The recent study linking traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) to depression in women sheds light on a pressing issue that disproportionately affects minority communities. While the research, published in the journal Menopause, focused on women in general, it underscores a broader pattern of environmental health disparities that often impact women of color more severely. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The North American Menopause Society, highlighted a crucial aspect of the findings. She pointed out the troubling connection between socioeconomic status (SES) and depression, noting that individuals with lower SES are disproportionately burdened by TRAP exposures. This observation is particularly relevant…
Life expectancy in the United States is diverging sharply along racial and economic lines, with Native Americans in the western states now living shorter lives than people in Haiti or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, Asian Americans enjoy life spans comparable to those in Japan and Switzerland — around 84 years.A study published in The Lancet reveals that disparities in life expectancy among racial and ethnic groups have nearly doubled since 2000. “This is like comparing very different countries,” said Tom Bollyky of the Council on Foreign Relations.Native Americans in the West face some of the harshest conditions,…
A new study reveals a troubling truth: the gap in life expectancy between racial and ethnic groups in the United States has nearly doubled since 2000. While some Americans are living as long as people in Japan or Switzerland, others face life spans comparable to those in the world’s poorest nations.Native Americans in the western U.S. now have an average life expectancy below 64 years—similar to that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In contrast, Asian Americans average 84 years, rivaling the highest global standards. “This is like comparing very different countries,” said Tom Bollyky, a study author and…
Examined racial disparities in cancer-clinical trials by highlighting much lower awareness and participation among Black survivors.
Launches Interpreter Training to Bridge Language Barriers in Healthcare
An estimated 12 million American adults are misdiagnosed each year, but women and racial minorities face significantly worse outcomes than white men. Research shows these groups are 20% to 30% more likely to experience diagnostic errors, creating what experts call an inexcusable and urgent public health crisis.The consequences prove devastating. Nearly 795,000 patients annually die or suffer permanent disability from misdiagnosis. Among hospital patients who died or required intensive care transfer, nearly one in four had experienced a diagnostic error.Black women face particularly dire risks with postpartum heart conditions. Charity Watkins, a Black mother, nearly died when doctors attributed her…
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