Today in the @sciam, fellow physicians @EbonyJHilton_MD @drchethansathya and I call on the medical community to address #racialinjustice in #healthcare, starting with the variable within our control: implicit bias. [thread] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/racism-in-health-care-isnt-always-obvious/

As physicians from 3 distinct racial minorities, our lives are defined by an innate tension. On one hand, we experience privilege, power, & respect of being highly educated professionals. On the other hand, we are part of a system that provides unequal treatment to POC. [2/6]

We recognize the many manifestations of #racism in healthcare, & we call on all our colleagues to stand with us in denouncing & fixing one critical problem: racial bias. When it comes to our patients, evidence suggests doctors exhibit same level of bias as wider population. [3/6]

Defined as the unconscious attribution of particular qualities to a member of a social group, #implicitbias is a term that has been making its way around the healthcare sector w/o ample consideration or integration to date. We are often unconscious of it & often defensive. [4/6]

As we look at systemic racial injustice that permeates throughout America, it’s important to be clear that while the most recent public example happens to be centered around police brutality, racism manifests across society, and #healthcare is far from exempt. [5/6]

How can we as a medical community address this issue? We believe it begins with understanding our own privilege and biases, and we believe it is critical that all our colleagues—regardless of race--join us without delay. [6/6] Read more here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/racism-in-health-care-isnt-always-obvious/