Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare Specialization

Recent events have once again put a spotlight on 400+ years of racism that has deeply entrenched our everyday structures, notably healthcare delivery. There is a significant need to provide a deep skillset to learners who have significant potential to change this system towards equity. Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities is core to the mission of public health. The healthcare delivery system contributes to these disparities in unique and complex ways.
In this MOOC series, we will learn about the sociological contributions and historical backdrop of why racial inequities exist in healthcare. We will also critically analyze the various causes of racial inequities in healthcare. And lastly, we will go through approaches to achieving equity in healthcare.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Recognize the historical backdrop that created disproportionate disease burden within racial/ethnic groups.
- Explain factors within the structure and delivery of healthcare that cause racial and ethnic disparities in health status and outcomes.
- Critically appraise approaches to address racial inequity in healthcare, all within the US and international contexts.
- How history & the factors of lack of access & representation in healthcare parallels other sectors in the U.S. and international contexts