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.
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.