Our efforts to improve diversity and inclusion at Johns Hopkins Medicine are needed for several reasons.
- Maintaining excellence: Hopkins has been a national leader in medicine because it has attracted and retained the best talent. Today, that talent must come from across the United States and the world.
- Reflecting our community: While racial and ethnic minorities make up 26 percent of the total U.S. population, only about 6 percent of practicing physicians and 9 percent of nurses are Latino, African American or Native American. In Baltimore, where 65 percent of the population is African American and where the Latino population has increased by nearly 50 percent in the last six years, there is a similar disconnect between providers and patients. Learn more about our demographics at Johns Hopkins.
- Bridging health disparities: Studies have found that minorities receive less and lower-quality health care than whites, resulting in higher mortality rates. According to research, minority physicians are more likely to care for patients of their own race or ethnicity, to practice in areas that are underserved, to care for poorer patients with less access to medical care, and to do research into reducing racial disparities in care.
- Building cultural competence: Understanding and respecting patients cultural backgrounds can lead to better care and higher satisfaction.
- Competing for grants: Funding from the National Institutes of Health for training and research awards is increasingly emphasizing minority participation and recruitment.
- Fostering inclusion: In an inclusive culture, people's unique contributions are valued, and they are less likely to feel isolated and move on to other professional opportunities. Learn more about our What We are Doing, dedicated to this initiative.
- Designated leadership: A new position of assistant/associate dean for diversity and inclusion has been created.
- E-learning: In addition, Johns Hopkins Medicine International, in conjunction with the School of Public Health's Center for Health Disparities Solutions, this fall will launch an e-learning course through hopkinsinteractive.org that gives staff an overview of cultural competency and health disparities. Learn more about our progress.
