The Department of Allied Health Sciences student ambassadors hosted its Difference Matters luncheon, an annual event open to students from all disciplines. This year’s talk was titled “The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Health Care and Research.” Division of Physical Therapy students Erica Ghigliotty and Deanna Sipes led the presentation and spoke about the lack of diversity in health care research.
The luncheon began by Ghigliotty and Sipes leading students through an exercise in which they placed colored beads on a string if they resonated with a statement regarding their backgrounds, culture, and sense of self. The exercise challenged participants to think about obstacles their future patients face when pursuing health care.
Ghigliotty and Sipes asked students what privilege meant to them as a future health care provider. “How can you use that privilege in certain areas to help your patients? We know how to look at a research study, but are we missing something?” Ghigliotty asked.
Referencing disparities in health disparities in cancer patients, Ghigliotty summarized the work of Moon Chen, MPH, PhD, at the University of California, Davis. Chen has challenged clinicians to think differently about minority patients, noting that minorities are hardly reached and that underrepresented patients are not barriers or inconveniences to clinicians.
“It is our responsibility to educate, spread the word, and think about including everyone in as many aspects of health care as possible,” Ghigliotty said. “As future health care providers, we serve everyone, and we should never overlook any patient.”
Sipes challenged students to think about groups that are often underpresented in research studies, which can result in poor outcomes for patients.
Difference Matters is possible thanks to the UNC-Chapel Hill Medical Alumni Association Loyalty Fund, faculty mentors Drs. Laurie Ray and Brenda Mitchell, in addition to faculty and staff.
“I recognize and applaud the Division of Physical Therapy’s efforts to understand underrepresented populations, as it is required to complete a clinical rotation in under-served regions in North Carolina,” Ghigliotty said. “Exposure is key.”