Resolution: F-20-18: MEDICAL EDUCATION MUST INCLUDE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN DERMATOLOGICAL CLINICAL TEACHING

[Valerie Lile]

1  WHEREAS, diversity is commonly defined by a wide range of factors, herein let diversity be
2  focused on race, due to the difference in physical presentation that occurs with individuals who
3  have different colors of skin⁹; and
4  WHEREAS, individuals of different races endure health disparities sometimes due to a given
5  physician’s lack of cultural competency, education and resources⁸; and
6  WHEREAS, osteopathic medical students are expected to, “articulate basic biomedical science
7  and epidemiological and clinical science principles related to patient presentation…³”; and
8  WHEREAS, according to American Osteopathic Association, “Physicians should be aware of
9  disparities in medical care within the United States and internationally. Where possible,
10  physicians should assist those less fortunate in securing access to appropriate medical care³”;
11  and
12  WHEREAS, in a recent U.S. survey, 47% of dermatologists and dermatology residents reported
13  that their medical training (medical school and/or residency) was inadequate in training them on
14  skin conditions in blacks.⁴”; and
15  WHEREAS, it is imperative, for the proper treatment of patients of all races, that medical
16  students and physicians be exposed to images and cases of different races in order to diagnose
17  and treat them properly, as disease can appear differently on individuals with different colors of
18  skin ^5,6,9; and
19  WHEREAS, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, operated by the American Medical
20  Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges, requires accredited medical
21  schools to; 1) implement non-discrimination policy to protect students and employees, 2) work
22  towards achieving diversity among students and employees, and 3) educate students on the basic
23  principles of culturally competent healthcare.⁷”, and
24  WHEREAS, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) passed policy H406-A/19
25  DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTHCARE stating that, “The American Osteopathic Association
26  adopts a zero tolerance policy for all forms of patient discrimination; and in concert with other
27  healthcare organizations, and the federal, state and local governments will continue to monitor,
28  correct and prevent any future negative bias towards one or more patient groups. 1999, revised
29  2004; reaffirmed as amended 2009; reaffirmed 2014; 2019²”; now, therefore, be it
30  RESOLVED, that Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) supports the inclusion of a
31  diverse spread of races in the presentation of dermatologic curricula; and, be it further
32  RESOLVED, that SOMA advocates for the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
33  (COCA) to assess the inclusion of diverse dermatologic presentation in medical curricula and
34  establish regulations for medical schools requiring the integration of material to meet the specific
1  healthcare needs of the racially diverse patient population in the United States of America; and,
2  be it further
3  RESOLVED, that SOMA advocates to the COCA for the incorporation of diverse dermatologic
4  presentation into the required curriculum upon review of the preceding conditions.

References

1. Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: COM Continuing Accreditation Standards. (2017, July 1). Retrieved August, 2020, from https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/com-continuing-accreditation-standards-2017.pdf
2. AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION POLICY COMPENDIUM 2019. (2019, September 15). Retrieved August, 2020, from https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/2019-Policy-Compendium.pdf
3. August 2012 Osteopathic Core Competencies for Medical Students. (2012, May 9). Retrieved August, 2020, from https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/core-competencies/corecompetencyreport2012.pdf?sfvrsn=4
4. Buster, K. J., MD, Stevens, E. I., BS, & Elmets, C. A. (2013, August 13). Dermatologic health disparities. Retrieved August, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742002/
5. In dermatology, health disparities can be skin deep. (2017, July 19). Retrieved August, 2020, from https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/dermatology-health-disparities-can-be-skin-deep
6. Lester, J., Jia, J., Zhang, L., Okoye, G., & Linos, E. (2020, July 16). Absence of images of skin of colour in publications of COVID‐19 skin manifestations. Retrieved September, 2020, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjd.19258
7. Moss, J., Hardy, E., Cooley, K., Cuffe, S., Lang, M., & Kennedy, A. (2020, August 1). Students Advocating for Diversity in Medical Education. Retrieved August, 2020, from https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscripts/2705
8. Nair, L., & Adetayo, O. (2019, May 16). Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare. Retrieved August, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6571328/
9. Nolen, L. (2020). How Medical Education Is Missing the Bull’s-eye. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(26), 2489-2491. doi:10.1056/nejmp1915891

Submitted by: 

Katie Lepak, OMS II – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nicole Griffin, OMS II – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Macy Elser, OMS II – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Steven Loke, OMS, I – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Adrian Palmer, OMS-II – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sidra Ali, OMS II – Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Batoul Sadek, OMS II- Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Action Taken: [Leave Blank. Will be Approved by the House of Delegates or Not Approved.]
Date: [Leave Blank. Date submitted to National Vice President and the National Office.]
Effective Time Period: ONGOING

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