Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
Author: Disparity Matters
A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals significant disparities in cancer care for Hispanic people in the United States. The report, published in Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2024-2026, highlights that obstacles to care, such as structural racism, poverty, and language barriers, contribute to lower cancer screening, early detection, and survival rates for Hispanic individuals compared to white individuals. The report indicates that Hispanic people are the second largest and youngest racial/ethnic group in the US, comprising about 19% of the total population. Despite this, they face considerable challenges in accessing quality healthcare. The majority of…
A comprehensive study conducted at a major cancer center reveals significant racial and ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer survival rates. The research, published in JAMA Oncology, analyzed data from over 47,000 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer over a 50-year period. The study found that Black patients had worse overall survival compared to White patients, with a 16% higher risk of death. Conversely, Asian and Hispanic patients showed better survival rates. Alarmingly, the disparity between Black and White patients has been increasing over the past two decades, with the gap widening from 2008 to 2023. Researchers identified several factors contributing to these disparities.…
Introducing new Spanish language website to address high rates of cardiovascular disease and stroke among Latino communities
A recent study reveals significant disparities in perceived discrimination among food pantry clients in Massachusetts, with Hispanic individuals facing the brunt of unfair treatment. The research, conducted by The Greater Boston Food Bank and MassGeneral for Children, sheds light on the challenges faced by marginalized communities seeking food assistance. The study, which surveyed 702 food pantry clients, found that 83% of respondents reported experiencing everyday discrimination, while 54% reported discrimination specifically at food pantries. Hispanic clients were 1.83 times more likely to report discrimination at food pantries compared to non-Hispanic White clients.”Our findings suggest that addressing discrimination is crucial for improving…
In the hallowed halls of Brown University, a group of high school students gathered around a pulse oximeter, unaware they were at the forefront of a critical issue in medical technology. This simple device, used to measure blood oxygen levels, harbors a troubling secret: it’s less accurate for patients with darker skin tones.Dr. Leo Celi, a physician and data scientist, uses this demonstration to highlight a broader concern in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence in healthcare. As AI algorithms increasingly predict patient outcomes, they rely on data that may perpetuate existing racial biases in medicine.The pulse oximeter’s inaccuracy…
A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a significant barrier to cancer treatment for individuals of African and Middle Eastern ancestry. Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that many cancer clinical trials automatically exclude participants based on blood neutrophil levels, which are naturally lower in people with the Duffy null blood group – a common trait among those of African and Middle Eastern descent. The study, led by Dr. Andrew Hantel, examined 289 Phase III clinical trials for the five most common cancers in the U.S. The results showed that 76.5% of these trials excluded individuals with neutrophil…
A new study from Northwestern Medicine highlights the pressing need for targeted cardiovascular health interventions for U.S. South Asians, a population with a higher risk of heart problems compared to East Asians and non-Hispanic whites. The research, published in JAMA Cardiology, is the largest lifestyle-intervention trial for this rapidly growing ethnic group in the United States. Dr. Namratha Kandula, lead investigator and professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, emphasizes the significance of this trial in understanding how to support South Asian communities in managing their cardiovascular health. The study involved 549 participants and aimed to address the unique cultural…
In the heart of Brooklyn, One Brooklyn Health (OBH) stands as a beacon of hope for some of New York City’s most vulnerable residents. Yet, as the safety net hospital system embraces a new race-free algorithm to assess kidney function, it faces a stark reality: changing one equation is just the beginning of addressing deep-rooted health disparities. The removal of race from kidney function calculations promises to flag Black patients with kidney disease earlier, potentially saving lives. However, OBH’s experience reveals a more complex picture. Dr. Gilda-Ray Grell, a nephrology fellow, describes the challenge as “astronomical,” with an estimated 350,000…
In a move aimed at tackling health inequities, New York state is proposing a new rule that would require health insurance plans to collect demographic information from their members. The initiative, announced by the state Department of Financial Services, seeks to gather data on race, ethnicity, gender, preferred language, and sexual orientation from New Yorkers as they sign up for or renew their insurance coverage. Adrienne Harris (above), superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, emphasized the importance of focusing on the commercial insurance market to address health equity. “When people do health equity policy, they really focus on the public…