Anti-racism workshops in medical schools.
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Anti-racism workshops in medical schools.
Many racial and ethnic minorities often experience lower quality health services due to
discrimination, social prejudices, stereotypes, and biomasses during medical encounters
compared to white people (Peek, 2021). It is invaluable to use anthropologists' insights in anti-
racism workshops for medical students in the US mainly because racism is a common issue in
the country. The insights help promote cultural competency among the medical students,
understanding, and empathy, which are necessary when delivering patient-centered care in the
current diverse society. Anthropologists have been for a long time studying human history across
the world and have recognized the frustration, pain, anger, and trauma caused by racism,
especially in healthcare (Race & Convergences, 2023). Notably, according to the report, research
conducted by various anthropologists demonstrates that a society becomes more vulnerable and
unstable when there is inequality.
Anthropology mainly focuses on the social construction of race, where racial categories
are a result of historical, political, and economic contexts with no biological evidence (Peek,
2021). This knowledge challenges medical students to view all people as human beings and
provide care equally despite the differences in their skin color, ethnicity, or economic status.
Various studies conducted by medical anthropologists show how marginalized communities face
barriers to accessing quality healthcare services, experience discrimination in various medical
settings, and suffer high rates of certain diseases (Peek, 2021). For instance, according to Duong
et al., 2023, black and Hispanic individuals had a higher mortality rate, increased risk of
COVID-19 infection, and hospitalization compared to white individuals (Duong et al., 2023).
The findings from this study highlight the need for cultural competency, especially during the
prehospitalization stage. By examining the historical inequalities, cultural patterns and
institutional biases, medical students can have a deeper awareness of the social-cultural
dimensions of health (Duong et al., 2023). Students can therefore recognize and respect the
diversity of patient experience hence treat patients as individuals rather than stereotypes hence
more equitable and compassionate care.
References
Duong, K. N., Le, L. M., Veettil, S. K., Saidoung, P., Wannaadisai, W., Nelson, R. E., ... &
Chaiyakunapruk, N. (2023). Disparities in COVID-19 related outcomes in the United
States by race and ethnicity pre-vaccination era: an umbrella review of meta-
analyses.=Frontiers in Public Health,=11, 1206988.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1206988/full
Peek, M. E. (2021). Racism and health: a call to action for health services research.=Health
Services Research,=56(4), 569. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8313951/
Race, R., & Convergences, C. (2023). ‘Anti-Race’?. A Cultural History of Race in the Modern
and Genomic Age, 6, 157. https://www.torrossa.com/gs/resourceProxy?
an=5524340&publisher=FZ0661#page=172
