Institutionalized “-isms” and Healthcare Disparities

Educational Series

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a health disparity in the Healthy People 2020 report as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.”[1]

Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.” [2]

In this 5 part educational series we lay the foundation to dismantling institutional “-isms” (bias that harms others). This is a launch pad to uplift voices and celebrate growth towards an inclusive and equitable society and healthcare system. 

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Author: Shay Strauss, MD is a second-year emergency medicine resident at Brown Emergency Medicine Residency.

Faculty Reviewer: Taneisha Wilson, MD is an attending physician at Brown Emergency Medicine.

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Citations:

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthy_people/hp2020/health-disparities.htm 

[2] https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services