As a black female physician, my experiences with patients are different from those of my white male counterparts. Increasing diversity and recognizing the varied experiences physicians face are crucial to the wellness and feeling of inclusion of all emergency physicians. ACEP is taking that step to promote diversity and cultural awareness. Our President, Dr. Rebecca Parker, is making cultural diversity a part of her platform. The recent summit on diversity is the first step in having a real conversation about diversity in medicine from the physician’s perspective. ACEP must hear from diverse physicians to acknowledge our experiences and support our needs.
Explore This Issue
ACEP Now: Vol 35 – No 12 – December 2016See how emergency departments can embrace diversity, inclusion.
Dr. Forde-Baker is assistant director of emergency medicine at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey.
Pages: 1 2 | Single Page
2 Responses to “ACEP’s Steps to Promote Diversity Support the Needs of Minority Physicians”
December 18, 2016
Benjamin ThomasThank you for sharing this Dr. Baker. As a resident, I can’t tell you the number of times that patients, paramedics, and sometimes hospital staff initially think that I am not a doctor or don’t have the capability of taking care of them. There is a scarcity of minorities in medicine and when in comes to emergency medicine I feel the numbers are dire, especially when it comes to african-americans in the field. The efforts to improve diversity in medicine and in our field really need to start at the high school and elementary level. The first time I ever interacted with a black doctor was not until I was interviewing for medical school. That needs to change. Minority children need to see more physicians who look like them in order to plant the seed that practicing medicine is something they can do as well. Our outreach efforts need to be focused on them.
December 18, 2016
Steve KatzJenice,
I am always proud to call you my colleague and follow your lead.