Where Do We Stand?: Antiracism in Health Science Education in 2024
Lauren Jones1, Ana Núñez, Briana Partee
1University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. lljones@umn.edu.
Journal of Allied Health
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Health science education is increasingly addressing systemic racism to reduce health disparities. Post-2020, professions are updating curricula and policies to foster antiracist practices and achieve health equity.
Area of Science:
- Health professions education
- Public health
- Health equity
Background:
- Systemic racism in health science education was largely unaddressed before 2020, contributing to health disparities.
- Public health and nursing were early adopters in addressing systemic racism professionally and academically.
- Minimal action was taken by other health professions prior to 2020.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review post-2020 responses to racism and inequities in health science education and practice.
- To analyze the impact of the George Floyd incident on institutional and professional organization actions.
- To identify current strategies for addressing systemic racism in health sciences.
Main Methods:
- Commentary and review of existing literature and institutional responses.
- Analysis of policy and curriculum changes in health science education.
- Examination of scholarly publications addressing racism and health equity.
Main Results:
- Increased antiracist statements and scholarly publications since 2020.
- Emergence of policies and curricula focused on improving health professional competency in addressing systemic racism.
- Growing recognition of the need for interprofessional antiracism initiatives.
Conclusions:
- Health equity necessitates embracing interprofessional antiracism efforts.
- Updating accreditation standards, curricula, pedagogy, and scholarship is crucial.
- Continued and expanded action is required to dismantle systemic racism in health professions.
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