In the US, African American women face higher mortality rates from major diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes compared to other demographics. These disparities are often due to systemic biases in healthcare, which can diminish or underestimate the pain and symptoms experienced by these women. The Promise of Predictive Healthcare in Personalized Medicine Predictive healthcare, however, marks an evolution in medical treatment, moving away from a generalized approach to a more individualized strategy. This approach uses advanced predictive analytics, which allows healthcare providers to identify potential health risks early and
Research has shown that Black adults experience higher rates of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and irregular sleep patterns, more frequently than other demographic groups. Dr. Ivor Horn, Google’s Chief Health Equity Officer, is at the forefront of addressing these health disparities using AI. Her role mainly involves bridging healthcare gaps by using technology to enhance healthcare equity, particularly for marginalized communities. Sleep Disorders With Black People Factors contributing to less sleep among Black individuals include location, environmental noise, light pollution, and broader socio-economic issues such as stress and racial discrimination.
Integrating AI in mammography offers a new era in breast cancer detection. However, there are concerns for people of color. The technology, which is becoming increasingly accessible, has the potential to enhance early detection rates beyond the current 87% achieved by traditional mammograms, as reported by The New York Times. AI algorithms are not working at identifying subtle signs of cancer that conventional methods may miss, thereby reducing false positives and unnecessary treatments. The Concerns For People Of Color Despite these advancements, the adoption of AI-enhanced mammography faces significant hurdles. One
Frontline Doulas has launched the California Black Doula Directory, a resource designed to connect Black families across Los Angeles County with culturally aligned doula services at no cost. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson and Khefri Riley, community-based doulas and champions for Black maternal health, Frontline Doulas is at the forefront of preventative perinatal care in Southern California. “We want to ensure all birthing families find the care they need and deserve, with mutual respect and cultural alignment,” Riley said, according to Black Voice News. The California Black Doula Directory The introduction of this directory comes at
A recent study has revealed that Black patients may be less likely than their white counterparts to receive responses from doctors to their online queries. The study in JAMA Network Open is based on examining medical advice request messages sent in 2021 to Boston Medical Center, a major safety-net provider. As the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with substantial growth in patient portal messaging, the researchers scrutinized over 39,000 messages from primary care patients during this time. Black Patients Less Likely To Get A Response Of the patients included in the sample, 2006 were Asian, 21600
Recent findings from a comprehensive review have highlighted biases in commonly used medical devices and technologies that can harm people of color. These include optical medical devices like pulse oximeters, AI-assisted devices, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) in genomics. Biases In Medical Devices The review was initiated by the UK’s former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, and conducted by a panel of experts. “Making sure the healthcare system works for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, is paramount to our values as a nation,” Junior Health Minister Andrew Stephenson told The Guardian. “It supports our
UK-based Black woman-founded digital health startup SökerData, has been awarded a share of a £6.2 million ($7.8 million) grant from Innovate UK. SökerData Research has found that people of European genetic ancestry represent a disproportionate 80% of participants in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). By contrast, only 2% of participants have African genetic ancestry. This imbalance has profound implications, especially in diseases like breast cancer, where outcomes vary significantly across ethnicities. SökerData’s project focuses on building a diverse biomarker database, a critical resource in the realm of medical research. Biomarkers are
Black-owned London-based startup Koalaa has recently closed a significant funding round of $1.2 million (£925,000) for its world-first soft prosthetic arms. Koalaa Established in 2020 by Imperial College alumnus Nate Macabuag, Koalaa has been dedicated to addressing three critical challenges faced by the limb difference community worldwide. These are access, affordability, and comfort, with their creations crafted from breathable fabric, offering a lightweight alternative to conventional prosthetics. Macabuag was named as part of the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe Class of 2021. His design through Koalaa has proven to especially
Black-owned Diabetes Digital has launched its innovative virtual nutrition counseling service, expanding access to 23 states. Meet The Founders Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez founded Diabetes Digital as an online platform for virtual nutrition counseling dedicated to diabetes and prediabetes. CEO Jones and COO Lopez are nationally recognized Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. The pair also co-founded Food Heaven – an online platform and podcast offering resources on cooking, intuitive eating, and body respect. The Diabetes Digital team comprises Registered Dietitians and Certified Diabetes Educators, bringing extensive expertise to users. “Diabetes Digital
Postpartum difficulties and a gap in the wellness industry led LaDonna Welch to create a mental health app, Ebony Notes, designed to affirm the Black community. Meet LaDonna Welch Welch advocates for diversity, equity, representation, personal growth, and inclusion. After giving birth to her second child in 2012, she learned she had postpartum and seasonal depression when she went to a doctor to discuss her symptoms. “They suggested that I speak to someone, and I was in my 30s. At this point, I had never even considered talking to anyone,”
