I am pleased to introduce the new "Our Journey in Medicine Continues" blog feature. We generated excellent discussion and many great ideas during our 5-part Journeys in Medicine series this past summer. Even though the riots have ended, the issues in our community leading to the riots persist. This blog feature is one of many approaches that we will use to ensure that our department remains cognizant of how race and background impact our worldview, relationship to our colleagues and the care we deliver to our patients.
On the second Thursday of every month, "Our Journey in Medicine Continues" will feature a perspectives piece on the impact of race and/or social determinants of health on patient care as well as a scholarly studies demonstrating effective interventions to reduce healthcare disparities. Our first entry features an article written by a member of our own great department.
Dr. Edgar (Pete) Miller, professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, published a study showing that providing dietary advice, assistance with grocery ordering and $30/week of high-potassium foods in African Americans with controlled hypertension increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased urinary potassium excretion. This work was supported by the Johns Hopkins Center for Eliminate Cardiovascular Health Disparities, directed by Dr. Lisa Cooper, professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine.
See the full article here: https://medicine-matters.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/files/2015/10/5-Plus-Nuts-and-Beans.pdf
Drs. David Williams, PhD, MPH, in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard and Robert Wyatt, MD, MHA from the Joint Commission, published a compelling perspectives piece in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighting the sources and effects of racial bias in health care as well as ways to combat it.
See the full article here: https://medicine-matters.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/files/2015/10/JAMA-Racial-Bias-in-Healthcare-2015.pdf
-Sherita Golden, MD, MHS, FAHA
Please look for "Our Journey in Medicine Continues" the second Tuesday of every month.
