On this page
This is a page of sources that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Some, as in the case of several books, address issues around inequity.
There are a few resources included but there are many more to discover. There are many podcasts and videos, articles and books on our library guide dedicated to this topic . A few select articles and books included here discuss the issues of racism in healthcare as well as highlighting STEM disparities.
- Racism is a public health crisisAmerican Public Health Association
- Special Issue: Racism and Public HealthHealth Affairs, February 2022
- Tackling Structural Racism In HealthHealth Affairs, October 2023
Resources on health inequity
- The U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee
The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Syphilis Study at Tuskegee was conducted between 1932 and 1972 to observe the natural history of untreated syphilis. As part of the study, researchers did not collect informed consent from participants and they did not offer treatment, even after it was widely available. The study ended in 1972 on the recommendation of an Ad Hoc Advisory Panel. After the study, sweeping changes to standard research practices were made. Efforts to promote the highest ethical standards in research are ongoing today.
Health Equity in Brazil by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9780252099533Publication Date: 2017Brazil's leadership role in the fight against HIV has brought its public health system widespread praise. But the nation still faces serious health challenges and inequities.
DEI Web Resources
Below are a selection of articles and web resources related to anti-racism and diversity in STEM. It is not meant to be comprehensive as it would be impossible to keep up.
For more research articles, try searching within the library's databases related to your discipline.
- Naming Institutionalized Racism in the Public Health Literature: A Systematic Literature ReviewAn article written by Rachel R. Hardeman, Katy A. Murphy, J’Mag Karbeah, and Katy Backes Kozhimannil published in Public Health Reports on April 3, 2018.
- gage.500womenscientists.orgDiscover brilliance
- This is what a scientist looks likeProfiles on 12 scientists from Harvard who were a part of a project called I am a Scientist. The I am a Scientist project aims to bring the stories and science of real world researchers to classrooms. There is a resources page with toolkits, downloadable materials, and more.
- Racial Equity Resources: How to Start the Conversation in your Community from Living Room ConversationsA series of resources to help facilitate conversations about race. The page includes conversation guides, educational resources, and recommended readings.
- Racial Bias in Scientific FieldsA list of resources that highlights racial bias in the scientific fields.
Organizations
Below are a selection of organizations to support BIPOC students, researchers, and faculty in the health sciences, as well as groups dedicated to social justice and anti-racist efforts. This is not a comprehensive list.
- White Coats for Black LivesA medical student-run organization that aims to foster dialogue on racism as a public health concern and to promote medical students’ involvement in local and national movements to end racism and police brutality. It seeks to end racial discrimination in medical care and prepare future physicians to be advocates for racial justice.
Podcasts
Below are a selection of podcast episodes, series, and seasons relevant to racism in the health sciences. The below podcasts are hosted in Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher and NPR. Explore these and other platforms for more.
This is not a comprehensive list. For more resources, please visit our:
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion GuideA select collection of podcasts, books, websites, etc.
- You're Wrong About: The Tuskegee Syphilis StudyMike tells Sarah about the longest "non-therapeutic" experiment in medical history. As a warning, this episode contains long quotes from eugenic memos and detailed descriptions of medical racism.
- Cite Black Women: Black Women and Health Equity, Spotlight on Black Maternal Health and COVID-19CBW Collective member Dr. Whitney Pirtle speaks with Dr. Monica McLemore about her career trajectory, moving from her long-time position as a clinical public health nurse to becoming a prominent researcher on Black maternal health and reproductive justice. They discuss the importance of centering and listening to Black women in reaching health equity, and why this matters especially in the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
- 1619: How the Bad Blood StartedBlack Americans were denied access to doctors and hospitals for decades. From the shadows of this exclusion, they pushed to create the nation’s first federal health care programs. On today’s episode: Jeneen Interlandi, a member of The New York Times’s editorial board and a writer for The Times Magazine, and Yaa Gyasi, the author of “Homegoing.”
- Science Rules! with Bill Nye: Science is Racist. Here's how to fix it.Dr. Dorothy Roberts explains the long history of racism in science and medicine — and where we go from here.
- Rad ScientistRecent events involving the killing of unarmed Black people have brought discussions about racism to the forefront, including at scientific institutions. This season is centered on Black scientists, from graduate students to faculty to those who have left the ivory towers. They study bug microbiomes, autism, neural prosthetics and more. But they will also discuss how racism has impacted their scientific journey. To cap off the season, we will examine the root of inequity in STEM academia and what we can do moving forward to ensure a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem where science can serve everyone.
- Hidden Brain: People Like Us, How Our Identities Shape Health And Educational SuccessThis week on Hidden Brain, we travel from medical clinics to school classrooms for a look at how shared identity creates understanding and trust.