Don't Ignore the Tipping Point: A Framework to Fuel Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Health-care Sciences

In the United States, social determinants of health have resulted in inequities in health care, particularly for communities affected by systemic forms of racism and oppression. Health-care professionals are essential in assisting participation in the health-care system. Building a more diverse health-care workforce can expand access to care, improve the quality of care, and increase health equity. However, many health-care professions have struggled to effectively recruit and retain individuals from diverse backgrounds. In the field of occupational therapy, leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion worked together to establish a framework with nationwide initiatives to effectively recruit and retain a workforce that is more representative of the communities, in which health-care professionals serve. The initiatives and framework outlined below can be replicated to advance efforts to increase diversity and create systems that address justice, equity, and inclusion.