Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Child Health, and the Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce

Area of Science:

• Pediatric subspecialty care
• Health equity
• Diversity and inclusion in medicine

Background:

• The United States pediatric population exhibits increasing diversity across multiple metrics.
• Significant disparities in the prevalence and management of pediatric health conditions exist, affecting diverse patient groups.
• Social drivers, including racism and discrimination, profoundly impact child health and well-being.

Approach:

• Review data on the diversity of the pediatric population and the pediatric subspecialty workforce.
• Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of current DEI initiatives in academic pediatrics.
• Provide recommendations for improving pediatric health equity across education, practice, policy, and research.

Key Points:

• Health inequities in pediatric subspecialty care span race, ethnicity, country of origin, socioeconomic status, sex, gender, and disability.
• Integrating DEI principles into the medical workforce can positively influence health outcomes.
• High-quality pediatric subspecialty care necessitates understanding diversity data and the impact of social determinants of health.

Conclusions:

• High-quality pediatric subspecialty care necessitates understanding population diversity and social drivers of health.
• Interventions targeting education, practice, policy, and research are essential for improving pediatric health equity.
• The ultimate goal is to achieve health equity for all children receiving specialized care in the US.