The Impact of Race on Healthcare Disparities

Joelle Burvell highlights how misconceptions about race are deeply rooted in the healthcare system, leading to significant disparities in treatment and diagnosis. He suggests that false narratives around racial differences in conditions like asthma, diabetes, and COVID-19 fail to address the social determinants of health that underlie these outcomes. For instance, the medical community often perpetuates stereotypes, such as the belief that Black patients have inherently lower lung function, which has tangible consequences for diagnosis and care. By unpacking these biases, Burvell emphasizes the need to transform medical education and practices to reflect the realities of healthcare disparities.