Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012
For Minority Physicians
Kit can help physicians reduce health disparities
Physicians can improve their awareness and skills in addressing the inequities in care that racial and ethnic minority patients receive by using a new kit from the AMA. This resource, available through the AMA Bookstore, contains materials featuring interviews with physicians, patients and others who have experienced disparities in care firsthand. The kit can help physicians understand:
- Why real and perceived disparities occur.
- How to establish effective interpersonal and working relationships that acknowledge cultural differences.
- Ways to challenge your knowledge and assumptions about the care you deliver.
- The connection between quality care and health care disparities.
AMA members receive a discount on this and other products available through the AMA Bookstore. If you're not a member, join today.
Also, email the AMA Minority Affairs Section if you have a project or idea that could help prevent health care disparities or raise awareness about this health issue.
Special events featured during AMA-MAS meeting
The AMA Minority Affairs Section held three programs Nov. 9–10 in conjunction with its business meeting and reception.
On Nov. 9, the AMA-MAS and the AMA Medical Student Section conducted an AMA Doctors Back to School™ (DBTS) visit at Kaewai Elementary School in Honolulu. The program reached out to more than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders, presenting healthy lifestyle choices and showing the students that medicine is an attainable profession. The DBTS program offers opportunities for physicians and medical students to introduce and inspire minority children to consider careers in medicine. Read more about the event in AMA Wire.
The section's business meeting took place later that day. Dr. S. Kalani Brady, MD, provided an engaging presentation in which he stressed the need to change the narrative when talking about racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Dr. Brady is an associate professor with the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Native Hawaiian Health. The meeting also featured an open forum on AMA House of Delegates reports and resolutions that would impact minority physicians and patients.
The AMA-MAS also joined other AMA sections and special groups in hosting a Nov. 10 continuing medical education program about the AMA's efforts to accelerate change in medical education—one of the AMA's strategic focus areas.
