On behalf of the SNMA Publications Committee, it is our upmost pleasure to present to you the Fall 2017 JSNMA Issue: Addressing Racial Bias in Medicine. We are truly humbled by this opportunity to feature the courageous voices of our SNMA members who undertook this controversial yet delicate topic.Their diligence and creativity, combined with that of our team, have taken our vision for this issue to unexpected heights. From opinion pieces to research articles, it provides powerful insights...

According to World Health Organizations equity can be defined as "the absence of avoidable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically." The principles of health equity include insuring equal access, utilization and health outcomes for all populations seeking healthcare. It is important to have a global approach in solving these issues to create healthier communities. The theme of this issues focus on dispa...

We are all well aware of the disparities present in our current medical system, especially among minorities. Traditionally, medicine and medical education have largely focused on understanding disease processes and one's ability to recognize the "zebras" of diagnoses however understanding the culture and values of our patients can play a significant role in health outcomes. Minorities are largely underrepresented among medical professionals. The AAMC numbers from 2015 stated that while Afr...