Voices of the Trauma Bay

Ochoa, Manuela

Some studies have even shown higher odds of mortality for minorities, with our Black population facing the greatest toll.1 2 In addition, according to the AHRQ 2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, the highest percentage of uninsured patients are Hispanic, with approximately 27% of the Hispanic population being uninsured.3 As a member of an under-represented minority in medicine, I have the duty to represent my community and act to foster inclusion and equity for other minorities as well. [...]the AAST can help advocate for language training and cultural competence in trauma scenarios, as well as research and education on health disparities in Acute Care Surgery. [...]as trauma is increasingly becoming the leading focus of research in global surgery, supporting the study of inequities in access to care and health literacy abroad is an excellent example of how the AAST can promote equity on a global scale.