Trailblazers
First Black woman doctor in the U.S
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Disease that causes painful “crises” and anemia
Sickle cell disease
“Hidden Figures” was about Black women who worked at _____.
NASA
The ethical principle requiring you to disclose risks/benefits/alternatives so a patient can choose
Autonomy / informed consent
True/False: Race is a reliable biological proxy for genetics.
False
This physician helped pioneer blood banking and blood storage during WWII
Dr. Charles R. Drew
In a patient with sickle cell disease + chest pain/SOB/fever, the life-threatening complication you must consider first
Acute chest syndrome
Organization founded in 1909 to fight racism through legal action.
NAACP
A historic U.S. study that contributed to medical mistrust by withholding treatment for syphilis
Tuskegee Syphilis Study
The more clinically useful concept than race when thinking about inherited risk
Ancestry/family history
This ophthalmologist invented/advanced laser cataract surgery (Laserphaco) and founded an institute to prevent blindness
Dr. Patricia Bath
The single most common chronic condition contributing to disparities in stroke, CKD, and heart failure risk
Hypertension
The holiday celebrating the end of slavery in Texas
Juneteenth
Name the communication technique where the patient repeats the plan in their own words
Teach-back
True/False: Pain tolerance differs by race
False
This surgeon performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries in the U.S. (1893) and co-founded Provident Hospital
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
In Black patients with type 2 diabetes, this class can improve renal outcomes and reduce heart failure hospitalization
SGLT2 inhibitors
Term for the continued, unequal impacts of slavery/segregation on society today: “systemic ____.”
Racism
Best first step when a patient says, “Doctors never listen to me.”
Validate + reflect (“I’m sorry that happened. Tell me more about what you felt was missed.”)
What’s the best next step if you suspect a social barrier is driving missed meds/visits?
Ask directly and problem-solve (cost, transport, work schedule, pharmacy access)
This NASA mathematician’s work helped send astronauts into orbit and to the Moon; she was featured in Hidden Figures
Katherine Johnson
Life-threatening pregnancy disorder with severe features (headache, vision changes, RUQ pain, severe BP) requiring urgent evaluation
Preeclampsia
Famous abolitionist who escaped slavery and led others to freedom via the Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman
A common biased chart phrase to avoid and replace with objective language: “noncompliant.” Better term?
“Nonadherent” (and document the reason/barrier)
The key reason race-based assumptions can be dangerous in clinical reasoning
They can cause missed diagnoses, undertreatment, and reinforce bias; patients are individuals