HEALTH."

>> WHILE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION HAS MADE STRIDES IN RECENT YEARS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY, THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.

TONIGHT, OUR FOUR PANELISTS WILL EXPLORE WHY DIVERSITY IN THE MEDICAL FIELD IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S CRUCIAL TO LEARN THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE OF MEDICINE.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATIONAL BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHY WE HAVE IN SOME OF THESE DISPARITIES EXIST.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH; I'M DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: DIVERSITY IN MEDICINE.

WHILE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION HAS MADE STRIDES IN RECENT YEARS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY, THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.

AS OF 2020, 5% OF PRACTICING PHYSICIANS IN THE US IDENTIFIED AS BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, 5.8% AS HISPANIC OR LATINX, X% 4% AS LGBTQ+ AND AN UNKNOWN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE AS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.

TONIGHT OUR FOUR PANELISTS WILL EXPLORE WHY DIVERSITY IN THE MEDICAL FIELD IS SO IMPORTANT.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS- DR. JADA HAMILTON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY DR. ERIC MACMASTER, CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE NORTON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AT SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY MR. HERB ALEXANDER, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER AT CAYUGA HEALTH SYSTEM AND, MS. NAKEIA CHAMBERS, AND, MS. NAKEIA CHAMBERS, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL, DISABILITY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, I KNOW THAT 140 YEARS AGO, SIGNIFICANT MUND FREUD HAD TROUBLE GETTING A PROFESSORSHIP AT A MEDICAL SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE WAS JEWISH.

AND BACK THEN THERE WERE NO WOMEN IN MEDICINE AND NO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN AND ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN STUDDEDY HERE AT THE PREDECESSOR OF SUNY UPSTATE.

BUT NOW 50% ARE WOMEN.

THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS BUT NOT IN OTHERS.

YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS RELATIVE WILL I NEW TO THE HEALTHCARE FIELD AND YOU HAVE NEW EYES ON THE MEDICAL FIELD.

SO TELL US WHAT ARE THOSE NEW EYES SEEING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN MEDICINE?

>> I THINK HONESTLY WITH THE NEW EYES COMES SOME OBJECTIVITY WHICH IS HELPFUL AND ALLOWS ME TO GO TO WHAT I CALL THE BALCONY AND LOOK AT IT FROM A HIGH LEVEL AND TRUTHFULLY I THINK WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS HEALTHCARE, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY, PEOPLE REALLY NEED IT TO LIVE.

IT HASN'T HAD TO BE AS ADAPTIVE OR RESPONSIVE TO THE SOCIETAL OR CULTURAL DEMANDS OR NEEDS OF SOCIETY; ONE OF WHICH BEING, ACTUALLY JUST A BASELINE APPRECIATION APPROACH TO MEDICINE, INFLUENCING OR INCORPORATING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, RIGHT?

AND SO.

>>Y-- AND SO WE ARE BEHIND THE CURVE.

>> IN SOME CASES.

IT IS RAPIDLY STARTING TO TRY TO CATCH UP AND WE CAN SEE THAT MANIFEST IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> SO YOU FOLKS, YOUR PHYSICIANS SAY THE SAME, SEEING THE SAME?

>> WE HAVE.

AND CALLING THAT PIECE OUT THAT I THINK OUR MEDICAL INDUSTRY IS DEFINITELY BEHIND IN SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGING JUST BEING AWARE OF SOME OF THE HISTORICAL AND SORT OF CONTEMPORARY INJUSTICES THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF A LOT OF MARGINALIZED UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE, AS A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, TRAINING MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, ET CETERA, REALLY THINK OF THIS WORK AS PART OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED IN MY, YOU KNOW, NEED TO KEEP UP ON ALL THE LATEST AND GREATEST AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE, I THINK THIS PIECE IS REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ABILITY TO REALLY OPTIMIZE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EVERYONE THAT WE COME IN CONTACT WITH IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES BE THE HEALTHIEST THEY CAN BE.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR INFORMATION TRAINING IN THE AREA OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THAT THE CURRENT PROFESSIONALS WILL KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY WALK NO A ROOM AND SEE SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE OF OTHER BACKGROUNDS?

>> I THINK A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE WE KNOW THAT PATIENTS OUTCOME AND SORT OF ABILITY TO STICK TO THE RECOMMENDED CARE PLANS, THOSE RATES ARE HIGHER WHEN I HAVE A PHYSICIAN OR A CLINICIANS THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE ME ME AND I THINK IT RELATES TO HOW I IDENTIFY WITH THAT PERSON.

WE THINK THE COMMUNICATION IS ALSO MUCH BETTER, AND SO IF, AS A BLACK PERSON, YOU KNOW, HAVING A BLACK DOCTOR ACTUALLY IMPROVES MY HEALTH OUTCOMES IN HOW WELL I DO.

>> AND THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME, BUT IT IS OPTIMIZED AND IT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT IF WE CAN ALL SORT OF BE, YOU KNOW, BEING CULTURALLY AWARE AND RESPONSIVE AND CULTURAL HUMILITY AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURES IN PLACE THAT SORT OF DRIVE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP MINIMIZE THOSE, THINGS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF.

>> AND TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER, Dr. HAMILTON, WE TALKED ABOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE TRAINING OR WHERE DOES THAT AWARENESS SHOW UP?

WHERE DO WE DO THAT WORK?

AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE START WITHIN MEDICAL EDUCATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> EVEN MAYBE BEFORE STUDENTS ARE PRE-HEALTH MAJORS AND THAT EFFECT.

BUT I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE CULTURE OF MEDICINE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THE FOUNDATIONAL BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHY WE HAVE SOME OF THESE DISPARITIES EXIST THE.

AND TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER AND NOT ONLY KNOWING THE PERSON BUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY RESIDE, YOU KNOW, IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MATCHING OR MIRRORING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THERE IS A BETTER CONCORDANCE OR CONTINUUM OF CARE.

BUT I THINK HAVE YOU TO KNOW YOURSELF, SO KNOWING THYSELF IN THAT RESPECT BUT ALSO HAVE TO KNOW OR HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PATIENT THAT YOU ARE SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THE BASIS AND I IT WILL INFUSE THE CONTENT WITHIN OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL AND HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM.

>> I THINK IT'S ALSO AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE DO TRAINING AND MEDICAL EDUCATION, YOU HAVE THIS SORT OF PROGRESS TIER WHERE YOU ARE A RECORDER, THEN YOU ARE AN INTERPRETER AND IT'S ABOUT THE SYNTHESIS OF THINGS AND SO MUCH OF THIS AWARENESS.

AND I THINK IT ALSO KIND OF BRINGS UP THE IDEA OF INTERSECTIONALITY, RIGHT, SO WE ARE SORT OF TALKING ABOUT, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO FEEL OTHERRED IN A CLINICAL SETTING, SO MY WORK WITH LGBTQ SPECIFICALLY TRANS YOUTH, I MAY HAVE A TRANS YOUTH WHO IDENTIFIES AS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO IS ALSO TRANS AND THEN ECHOING YOU, Dr. HAMILTON, THE SIDE THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW-- I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE IS CIS OR TRANSCOMING IN AND THAT CAN FEEL INTRUSIVE SO HOW DO YOU WALK IN WITH THE COMPETENCY FROM THE GET GO.

HOW DO YOU HAVE THE TOOLS UNDER YOUR BELT DO THAT.

>> I'M SORRY, JUST WANT TO,-- THIS IS A GOOD MOMENT TO GO TO A VIDEO PACKAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT THE STUDENT NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OR S.N.M.A., THE OLDEST AND LARGEST STUDENT LED ORGANIZATION FOR SUPPORTING UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND IT PROVIDES A VITAL COMMUNITY FOR THEM ON THEIR PATH TO BECOMING PHYSICIANS.

A.N.M.A.

ALSO WORKS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN CLASSROOM AS ROUND THE WORLD.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN READING DAY AND REPRESENT OUR PROFESSIONAL IDENTITIES TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE SITTING IN THE SEATS AT THIS SCHOOL.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY CAN BE.

IT IS A SPACE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS IN THE PURSUIT OF MEDICINE AND SNMA'S MISSION TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC AND FILL THOSE SPACES.

>> SNMA IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS SPENT TO SUPPORT UNDER REPRESENTED STUDENTS IN MEDICINE.

IT WAS CREATED AT A TIME WHERE THE A.M.A.

WAS NOT ACCEPTING DOCTORS THAT WERE NOT WHITE AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION BEGAN.

SO THIS IS JUST THE STUDENT CHAPTER OF THAT.

AND THERE IS SPECIFICALLY CHAPTERS AROUND THE WORLD PRETTY MUCH AND WE ARE THE CHAPTER THAT IS SPECIFIC TO UPSTATE.

>> SO MISSION OF S.N.M.A.

IS TASKED WITH MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR FIND A WAY IN MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE AND THE MAIN GOAL IS TO WORK WITH PRE-HEALTH STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS IN TERMS OF WORKING TO DO WELL IN THE MCAD AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER HOURS, CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL, SO IT MIGHT BE LIKE SCRIBING IN A HOSPITAL, JUST VOLUNTEERING OR SHADOWING A DOCTOR IN THE HOSPITAL.

MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS HAVE THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO GO TOWARDS SUCCESS AND NOT ONLY GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL BUT BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY GET THERE AS WELL.

SO WE WORK TO JUST GUIDE THE STUDENTS IN TERMS OF JUST WHAT TO DO IN THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD YEAR AND WHEN THEY GET TO THE FOURTH YEAR IN TERMS OF AM AMBASSADOR INDICATIONS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, MAKE SURE THEY'RE RELL TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY WHEN THEY GET TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> HISTORICALLY AT S.N.N.A., EXPOSURE, LETTING THE YOUTH KNOW AND INDIVIDUALS KNOW, IT WORKS ON A CONTINUUM OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TO HIGH SCHOOLS TO UNDERGRADUATE TO GRADUATE.

AND SOMETIMES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CHANGING PROFESSIONS AND WANTING TO GET INTO MEDICINE, SO THEY DO A LOT OF RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES TO RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS ALONG VARIOUS AGE GRUMS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ACADEMIC CONFERENCES TO EXMOTION THEM TO THE SOCIAL CAPITAL THAT IS NEEDED TO SORT OF GET INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD AND SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCE INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD.

>> IN OUR SPECIFIC CLASSROOM THESE TWO BOOKS CHANGE SINGS AND THE MOON LOVES THE SKY, SO WE WANTED TO BRING A LOT OF DIVERSE STORIES.

IN THE PAST WE HAVE WORKED TO DONATE A BUNCH OF BOOKS WITH DIFFERENT CHARACTERS AND DIVERSE STORIES SO THE KIDS COULD SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE BOOKS.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE INVITED BACK TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND BE PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

WE WANT TO SHOW KIDS THAT THERE ARE DOCTORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM OR FUTURE DOCTORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AND ANYTHING THAT THEY TO ACHIEVE IS POSSIBLE.

IF THEY CAN SEE IT, THEY CAN BE IT.

>> SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING AT UPSTATE, YOU ALL ARE DOING AT UPSTATE TO SUPPORT MEDICAL STUDENTS THERE.

WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE THEY DOING AS A UNIVERSITY?

>> I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH, IN TANDEM, LOOKING AT BRINGING IN, SO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, AND-- >> RECRUIT MORE MINORITY... >> UNDER REPRESENTED STUDENTS.

>> SO WE HAVE SINCE REDESIGNED A COUPLE OF PATH WAY OR PIPELINE PROGRAMS TO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF TAP INTO THAT RACE AND ETHNIC DEMOGRAPHIC?

A PATHWAY TO PIPELINE?

>> A PATHWAY TO PIPELINE TO MEDICINE OR HEALTHCARE BECAUSE WE ARE AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER.

WE, YOU KNOW... >> NOT JUST DOCS, NURSES, ET CETERA BUTTRESSER TO THERAPISTS, ET CETERA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONEES IS WE HAVE TWO PARTNERSHIPS.

ONE TW HBCU.

>> HISTORICALLY BLACK CHALLENGE AND UNIVERSITIES.

AND THEN ALSO WITH HAMPTON UNIVERSITY.

AND BUILDING AND WE ARE WORKING ON BUILDING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE TWO INSTITUTIONS.

>> SO YOU GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND YOU ACTUALLY SEND PEOPLE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT UPSTATE AND SAY HEY, CONSIDER APPLYING TO US FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE STUDENTS AT UPSTATE FROM THIS PIPELINE WITH HAMILTON WITH HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AND THE FIRST TWO STUDENTS FROM SPELLMAN UNIVERSITY MATRICULATING IN 2024.

SMALL STEPS.

BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT IT'S THE SMALL INTENTIONAL STEPS AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK TO RECRUIT DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND YOU KNOW, ENROLL DIVERSE POPULATIONS, YOU VIOLENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SEEN AND HEARD WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS.

>> ONCE THEY COME INTO THE INSTITUTION.

>> SO, YEAH.

>> I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU CREATE A CULTURE THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE.

BUT ERIC, I KNOW THAT PSYCHIATRY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL, COMPARED TO OTHER PROGRAMS, IN RECRUITING UNDER REPRESENTED FOLKS INTO THE STUDENT BODY.

HOW HAVE THEY DONE IT?

>> I FEEL THAT THAT'S A SAFE STATEMENT AND THERE IS AN AND, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I THINK WE OWE A LOT OF THE HARD WORK IN RECRUITING THESE CANDIDATES TO INTERVIEW IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE, RIGHT?

SO THERE IS A CHOICE TO IT THE WAY PEOPLE DO IT, BUT OUR DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, HOUR CHIEF D.E.I.

OFFICER.

>> DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

>> YES.

THAT MAN HAS PUT IN SO MANY HOURS TO CREATE WHAT I THINK IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.

SO HAVING GROWN UP AT UPSTATE, DONE MEDICAL SCHOOL RESIDENCY, FELLOWSHIP AND NOW WORKING HERE, OUR DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, LOVE THE DEPARTMENT, BUT TO PUT IT A LITTLE BIT UNDER A MICROSCOPE, THEY ALL LOOK LIKE ME.

PEOPLE LOOKED A LOT LIKE ME.

AND SO IT'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF WORK.

I THINK THE REALLY COOL THING IS A LOT OF EARLY CAREER PSYCHIATRISTS AND COMING INTO THE DEPARTMENT ARE VALUING THIS AS WELL TO WORK IN SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE IF WE LOOK-- I'M A FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR GENERAL RESIDENCY, WE DON'T RETAIN EVERYBODY AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS PEOPLE CAME HERE, ET CETERA.

BUT LIKE HOW DO WE CONTINUE THAT.

SO THAT'S BEEN MY EFFORT WITH HIM IS I WANT TO KIND OF WORK TO CREATE MORE OF THAT PIPELINE THAT DOESN'T JUST, THE TRICKLE STOPS.

>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE RESIDENCY AND DOCK THE DOCTOR HAS PLAYED A REAL ROLE.

DOES HE GO TO UNIVERSITIES, HBCUs AND-- >> EVERYTHING AND EVERYWHERE.

>> AND BRINGS PEOPLE IN TO INTERVIEW.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ONCE THEY GET HERE?

HOW DO YOU CREATE THAT KIND OF AN ENVIRONMENT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,THIS IS JUST IN HIGHER ED, EVEN WHERE I'M LOCATED.

SO WE ARE REALLY BIG ON RECRUITING DIVERSE TALENTED STAFF.

AND IF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU ARE WORKING IN AND LIVING IN DOESN'T SEEM, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU REALLY BELONG, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SMALLER CITIES, MID SIZED CITIES, DEPENDING ON HOW DIVERSE THE POPULATION IS, IT'S DEFINITELY HARDER TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THAT LOCATION.

I THINK THE BIGGEST PIECE IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RECRUITMENT, WE HAVE TO ALSO STRONGLY THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE RETAIN.

IT HAS TO DO WITH MENTORSHIP, PROMOTION, YOU KNOW,-- >> GO SLOW.

THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO ARE YOU-- ONCE YOU GET SOMEBODY HERE ON THE FACULTY, THEY NEED TO HAVE A MENTOR?

>> OR A MENTOR OR SOMEBODY WHO IS ENSURING THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG, THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF THEY NEED EXTRA CAREER SORT OF ADVICE HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT, I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE, YOU KNOW,ANY CHANCE OF PROMOTION OR FURTHERING MY CAREER IN A SPECIFIC AREA, WHILE I SEE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE ME KIND OF GETTING UP IN THOSE AREAS, THEN I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY.

>> YOU WANT TO DEVELOP A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG BUT ALSO THEY'RE TREATED LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND THEY CAN MOVE UP THE HIERARCHY.

>> EXACTLY, IN SOME WAYS, ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE OTHER PIECES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WELCOMING I FEEL IN A COMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SYRACUSE, BUT I KNOW ITHACA, IT'S VERY HARD, YOU KNOW, JUST-- YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW FROM THE ROCHESTER AREA, TO ITHACA, AND IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> HONESTLY, IN THE PART OF MY WORLD LOOKING AT THIS, TOO, FOLKS COME IN, IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL.

FOLKS DON'T JUST COME AND STAY.

IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONALITY.

I'M NOT IN HIGHER EDUCATION SETTING, RIGHT BUT IN HEALTHCARE.

WHEN FOLKS SHOW UP, IT'S NOT REPRESENTATIVE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE NUMBERS EARLIER.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS-- THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS.

EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS.

SO THAT SEEMS SMALL BUT WHAT EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS ARE IS YOU SHOW UP AND THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU.

AN EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP FOR BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS IF IT'S IN EDUCATION.

OR DOCTORS, WHATEVER IT IS.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS, YOU COME INTO A SPACE WHERE FOLKS HAVE A SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCE AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN SHOW UP TO A PLACE AND GO A WHOLE WEEK, MONTH OR SO AND NOT SEE ANYBODY WHO REFLECTS YOUR RACIAL CULTURE OR IDENTITY.

THAT'S HUGE.

AND THEN YOU MENTIONED A REALLY GREAT POINT, Dr. HAMILTON, THE COMMUNITY.

IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN CAYUGA, TRYING TO GET TO A PROMINENT ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER, SO FOLKS GET HERE AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS YOU HAVE MANY INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS, FOLKS COMING FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, QUESTIONS LIKE WHERE DO I GET FOOD THAT REFLECTS MY CULTURE, RIGHT?

WHERE DO I GO, WHERE IS THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DIFFERENT FROM NEW YORK CITY?

WHERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS?

FOLKS HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY IF YOU REALLY WANT TO THEM TO TAKE ROOTS HERE AND STAY.

THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON.

IF NOT, FOLKS WILL LEAVE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK EVEN WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENT BODY, SO S.M.N.A.

IS THAT COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A LATINO MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION.

AND A SPECTRUM STUDENT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH OUR LGBTQ+ POPULATION.

YOU KNOW,TODAY THE OPENING OF CELEBRATING EID.

ENDING OF RAMADAN IS TODAY.

SO LOOKING AT THAT, WE HAVE TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO FOR THE FOUR PILLARS, OF MY OFFICE, ALSO DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE IS TO CELEBRATE, EDUCATE.

>> CELEBRATE EVERYBODY'S CULTURE,.

>> EDUCATE.

ADVOCATE AND CONNECT.

CONNECT COULD MEAN CONNECT YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS AND PHYSICIANS SO SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T FIND MENTORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO REACH BEYOND, YOU KNOW.

>> THE LEADERSHIP REALLY HAS TO BE INVOLVED FROM THE TOP DOWN REALLY.

THERE HAS TO BE THIS KIND OF INTENTIONALITY LIKE YOU WERE REFERRING TO, THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND CREATING A CULTURE WHERE THESE THINGS ARE FRONT OF MIND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, TOO, JUST IN GENERAL, GOING BACK TO THE IDEA OF HOW TO BE HOW FOLKS GET HERE.

AGAIN, WE ARE BRINGING IN STUDENTS AND RESIDENCE FROM ALL DIFFERENT-- RESIDENTS FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, WHAT EDUCATION ARE THEY GETTING?

AND THE REASON THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AROUND DIVERSITY IN MEDICINE IS YOU WANT TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE CULTURES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SERVE.

ALSO WE WON'T EVER REACH A POINT OF CULTURAL CONGREW INCY CONGRUENCY, WHERE EVERY BLACK INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE A BLACK DOCTOR.

BUT WHAT YOU WANT IS FOR FOLKS TO HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DO I ENGAGE WITH FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

A LOT OF THAT, YOU SAID EARLIER, Dr. HAMILTON, IS HOW DO WE GET PAST IMPLICIT BIAS.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT THAT.

THE IMPLICIT BIAS PIECE IS SO HUGE BECAUSE THAT COMES OUT IN HOW PEOPLE PRACTICE MEDICINE.

>> TRYING TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE IMPLICIT BIAS.

I WANT TO BUILD ON THAT.

WE JUST HAVE TWO MINUTES TO GO.

BECAUSE I RECENTLY SAW SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY THAT KIDS WHO LIVE IN STATES WHERE THEY HAVE ENACTED LAWS SAY #-GS YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT BEING GAY, YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HOSTILE TO TRANS CARE, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S AN EXPLICIT BIAS.

>> BUT THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THOSE KIDS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND TO BE SUICIDAL AND KILL THEMSELVES.

>> YES.

>> WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO PIVOT SOLELY BECAUSE I THINK YOU CAN EXTRAPOLATE TO A LOT OF UNDERREPRESENT GROUPS.

BUT YEAH, THE DATA THAT'S COME OUT RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY ON THE INCLUDES P CUSP OF THE POLITICALIZATION OF PEOPLE'S BODIES AND THEIR IDENTITY IT'S SORT OF-- I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW TRAINING AND HIGHER ED IN MEDICINE ADDRESSES THIS BECAUSE I THINK ALSO WHERE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO MOVE THAT DIALOGUE FORWARD, YOU ARE ALSO BEING SILENCED IN SOME OF THE STATES, TOO.

NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH.

SO I THINK IN GENERAL, IT'S NOT-- I WOULDN'T SAY COMPLETELY CONGRUENT TO IMPLICIT BIAS BUT THE IDEA OF THIS EXPLICIT BIASES ARE HARMFUL AND I WOULD VENTURE IN SOME CLINICAL SETTINGS THERE ARE BOTH IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT BIASES AND NEEDING TO BE AWARE OF BOTH, THE DUALITY.

>> I THINK IT MAKES EDUCATION, TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER, SAYING TRAINING.

SOME PEOPLE VIEW TRAINING AS A ONE AND DONE SITUATION.

THIS IS AN ONGOING LEARNING PROCESS.

I'M OF THE WORK AND I STILL GO THROUGH CONTINUOUS TRAINING.

>> THIS WHAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS-- AFTER MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> IT HAS TO BE JOINED AND INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> WELL, FOLKS, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS- DR. JADA HAMILTON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY DR. ERIC MACMASTER, CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE NORTON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AT SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY MR. HERB ALEXANDER, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER AT CAYUGA HEALTH SYSTEM AND, MS. NAKEIA CHAMBERS, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL ACCESS PROGRAMS AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR PROGRAM AND EXTRAS INCLUDING A VIDEO PRODUCED BY CAYUGA HEALTH THAT FOCUSES ON HEALTH EQUITY, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH.

TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITYFM.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

NEXT WEEK ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH,".

>> TONIGHT'S TOPIC, HOW TO BE HAPPIER.

IN THIS FAST PACED WORLD WHERE WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES JUGGLING MULTIPLE THINGS DO, DO THAT DO THIS AND CONSTANTLY STRIVING FOR MORE, MORE AND MORE, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE SIMPLE YET PROFOUND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY FOUR PANELISTS WHO WILL SHARE SOME VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND TIPS THAT CAN HELP US LIVE HAPPIER AND MORE FULFILLING LIVES.