# **The Significance of Diversity in Medicine: A Doctor’s Perspective**

## **Introduction**

Diversity in the medical field transcends mere representation—it is vital for survival. Dr. Pamela Buchanan shares a personal narrative that emphasizes how cultural understanding and representation in healthcare profoundly influence patient outcomes. As a Black female physician, her experiences treating patients in largely white communities provided her with critical insights into the biases and inequalities present in medical care. Her story illustrates the necessity of diversity within the healthcare system and reveals how unconscious bias can influence medical treatment.

## **Acknowledging the Value of Cultural Competence**

Dr. Buchanan’s path as a new physician was characterized by resolve and perseverance, particularly as she encountered medical environments where she was frequently the sole Black physician. During one of her assignments in Hannibal, Missouri, she faced a case that powerfully demonstrated the significance of diversity in medicine—a biracial child suffering from a kerion, a serious fungal scalp infection.

Having treated this condition numerous times in urban areas with diverse populations, Dr. Buchanan realized that a topical antifungal medication alone would not suffice. Beyond the medical treatment, she recognized the cultural relevance of hair within the Black community, making the child’s anxiety over hair loss even more poignant. Her proactive approach led to appropriate treatment, further emphasizing the essential role of cultural competence in delivering effective healthcare.

## **The Effect of Bias on Medical Treatment**

Dr. Buchanan’s experience reveals a wider problem in medical care—unconscious bias and inadequate cultural awareness often lead to misdiagnosis and insufficient treatment, particularly for Black patients and women. Studies have continually shown discrepancies in pain evaluation and management:

– **Pain in Black patients is often undervalued or dismissed.**
Research published in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* indicated that medical trainees were more inclined to accept erroneous stereotypes that suggest Black individuals have a higher pain threshold, resulting in insufficient treatment of their pain.

– **Symptoms of heart attacks in women are often misdiagnosed or ignored.**
A study featured in the *European Heart Journal* revealed that women having heart attacks were 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed initially compared to men. Another investigation published in *JAMA Internal Medicine* showed that women waited, on average, 11 minutes longer than men for emergency responses to chest pain—a critical delay that could be fatal.

### **What Contributes to This?**
Several primary factors play a role in these disparities:

1. **The “Hollywood Heart Attack” Myth**
Many individuals, including healthcare providers, often correlate heart attacks with the dramatic symptoms typically portrayed in men. However, women often exhibit less typical signs such as nausea, jaw pain, or shortness of breath, which can lead to their concerns being overlooked.

2. **Implicit Bias**
Studies indicate that women’s pain is frequently regarded as overstated or emotional. Women are more commonly categorized as “anxious” rather than receiving comprehensive medical assessments.

3. **Insufficient Research on Women’s Cardiac Health**
Historically, cardiac disease studies have largely concentrated on men, resulting in considerable gaps in understanding how heart disease manifests in women.

## **Sickle Cell Disease and Pain Management Stigma**

One of the most alarming instances of bias in medical treatment revolves around sickle cell disease, a condition that mainly impacts Black individuals. Dr. Buchanan recalls an incident involving a Black woman in an ER in Missouri suffering intense pain during a sickle cell crisis. The nursing staff quickly assumed she was seeking drugs—despite her clear medical history. Dr. Buchanan had to remind the team that prioritizing pain management was essential in such situations.

They treated the woman assertively, but she subsequently developed acute chest syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication. Thanks to Dr. Buchanan’s intervention, the woman was transferred to a properly equipped hospital in time, almost certainly saving her life. This case illustrates how systemic biases can lead to inadequate treatment and, in extreme situations, fatal results.

## **Diversity in Medicine Saves Lives**

The benefits of diversity in healthcare are supported by research:

– **Patients experience improved outcomes when cared for by physicians of the same racial background.**
A 2020 study published in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* found that Black men were more inclined to accept preventative care measures, such as cholesterol screenings and vaccinations, when treated by Black physicians.

– **Female doctors yield better patient outcomes.**
A *JAMA Internal Medicine* study indicated that hospitalized patients under the care of female doctors had lower mortality and readmission rates than those treated by male doctors.

When healthcare providers better mirror the communities they serve, they deliver culturally sensitive care, mitigate bias, and enhance health outcomes.

## **Advancing Toward a More Inclusive Medical System**

Dr. Buchanan’s experiences underscore the pressing need for a greater number of diverse and culturally conscious medical professionals. Diversity in healthcare is more than just statistics; it pertains to the caliber of care, comprehension, and empathy that truly benefits the patient population.