Dr. Starling Tolliver, a determined and ambitious individual, harbored a deep desire to pursue a career in medicine from a young age.
However, as a young Black girl residing in Akron, Ohio, this aspiration seemed like an unattainable dream. The dearth of medical professionals who resembled her in her community only served to compound her feelings of disillusionment.
Furthermore, Tolliver’s personal struggle with severe hair loss during her childhood exacerbated her frustration, as she encountered great difficulty in locating a dermatologist capable of providing the necessary assistance.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Tolliver forged a pact with two of her closest childhood friends, vowing to become doctors who would dedicate themselves to serving the Black community and other marginalized populations.
At present, at the age of 30, Tolliver finds herself on the cusp of completing her dermatology residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, a significant milestone in her journey towards fulfilling her lifelong dream.
With an unwavering determination to devote her professional life to the meticulous care and nurturing of the body’s largest organ, she embarks on a journey that not only encompasses the physicality of the human form but also delves into the intricate complexities of the diverse skin colors that underpin the construct of race.
As she sets her sights on a career in dermatology, she is confronted with a disheartening statistic that casts a shadow over her aspirations: a mere 3% of doctors in the United States specializing in this field share her Black heritage.
Undeterred by this glaring disparity, she resolves to shatter the barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive and representative future in the realm of dermatological medicine.
Driven by a deep-rooted passion and an unyielding commitment to her craft, she strives to not only heal and rejuvenate the skin but also challenge the prevailing narrative surrounding race and its impact on healthcare.
Through her unwavering dedication, she seeks to empower and inspire the next generation of Black physicians, leaving an indelible mark on the field of dermatology and dismantling the systemic inequities that persist within it.
In spite of achieving remarkable success in her own life, the girls’ pact, which had been forged with such hope and determination, still remains unfulfilled.
It is a poignant reminder of the tragic fate that befell Maria, her dear friend, who had aspired to become a pediatrician.
At the tender age of 19, Maria’s life was cut short in their hometown, leaving Tolliver devastated and filled with grief.
However, rather than succumbing to despair, her friend’s untimely demise only served to strengthen Tolliver’s resolve and deepen her commitment to her chosen path in medicine.
With unwavering determination, she declared, “I’m going to continue to pursue this journey of medicine, not just for myself, but also for Maria.
I want to honor her memory and, perhaps, make a difference in the lives of others who come from similar backgrounds as mine.
I want them to know that they too can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.” Tolliver’s words reflect her unwavering dedication to her chosen field and her profound desire to use her knowledge and skills to uplift and empower others.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, a growing concern has emerged regarding the potential ramifications for students of color seeking a path into medicine.
This apprehension is further compounded by the medical field’s ongoing reckoning with deeply entrenched health inequities.
Despite constituting 13% of the U.S. population, Black Americans account for a mere 6% of U.S. physicians.
Recognizing the urgent need to address these disparities, experts posit that an increase in representation among doctors from marginalized communities could serve as a crucial step towards dismantling the pervasive health inequities that persist in our society.
By ensuring that aspiring doctors from underrepresented backgrounds have equal opportunities to pursue a medical education, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system that caters to the diverse needs of all patients.
Fewer Black, Hispanic doctors in US
The disparities that exist within the medical system are far-reaching and pervasive, affecting individuals from the moment they are born until their last breath.
A recent series conducted by the Associated Press shed light on this troubling issue, revealing that these disparities often begin even before Black babies have taken their first breath.
Shockingly, patients have consistently reported that their concerns and needs have been dismissed or disregarded, largely due to the presence of unchecked bias and racism within the medical system.
This distressing reality is further exacerbated by a lack of representative care, where individuals from marginalized communities are not adequately represented or provided with the necessary healthcare services they require.
Such systemic failures perpetuate the cycle of inequality and discrimination, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within the medical field to address these deeply ingrained issues.
The recent affirmative action ruling has had a significant impact on the medical field’s efforts to improve diversity.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), this ruling has dealt a “serious blow” to their goals of addressing the underrepresentation of minority groups in medicine.
The ruling prohibits medical schools from considering race as one of the factors in their admissions process.
As a result, the AMA believes that the progress made in combating health inequities will be reversed. This has raised concerns about the long-term consequences for Black health. Dr. Uché Blackstock, a New York emergency room physician and author, emphasizes that these consequences could affect future generations.
She argues that it is crucial to hold larger organizations and institutions accountable for their role in perpetuating systemic racism in medicine. Blackstock sees the current situation as a crisis of humanity that requires urgent action.
In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling that has effectively taken affirmative action off the table at predominantly white institutions, there is speculation that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) may experience a surge in applications. Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the esteemed president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, has expressed her belief that HBCUs will see an increase in the number of applications they receive.
Currently, Morehouse School of Medicine typically has 115 openings for new medical students, yet they already receive an overwhelming 7,000 to 9,000 applications each year. With the recent ruling, it is expected that this number will rise even further.
HBCUs have long been recognized as a direct pipeline for the education and training of Black doctors, and this trend is likely to continue in the face of the changing landscape of higher education.
The importance of diversity within specialty medicine, particularly in the field of dermatology, cannot be overstated, as highlighted by experts.
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, out of the 796 applicants for residencies in dermatology in 2020, only 65 were Black and a mere 39 were Latino.
This glaring lack of representation in the field is concerning, especially when considering the disparities in access to dermatological care among patients of color.
It is alarming to note that patients of color are half as likely as their white counterparts to seek the expertise of a dermatologist for the same conditions.
This disparity in access to care not only perpetuates health inequities but also underscores the urgent need for increased diversity within the specialty of dermatology.
By fostering a more diverse workforce, we can address the unique concerns and needs of patients from diverse backgrounds, ultimately striving for a more equitable healthcare system that serves all individuals equally.
The consequences of neglecting dermatological health can be devastating. According to Dr. Ginette Okoye, a professor and chair of dermatology at Howard University, the skin can provide valuable insights into a person’s overall health.
In some cases, specific rashes can even serve as early indicators of serious conditions such as kidney disease or cancer.
However, there are disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer among different racial groups.
A recent study found that black men are more likely to die from melanoma, the most invasive form of skin cancer, and are often diagnosed at a later stage when treatment becomes more challenging.
The reasons for these disparities are not fully understood, but researchers believe that economic and social factors may play a role.
To address these issues, initiatives like the Pathways program aim to increase diversity in dermatology by engaging students from underrepresented communities and providing scholarships, workshops, and mentorship programs.
By increasing the number of dermatology residents and faculty members from diverse backgrounds, these programs hope to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients of all races.
Additionally, efforts are being made to diversify dermatology textbooks to better represent the spectrum of skin colors, enabling doctors to make more accurate diagnoses and provide equitable care.