Diversifying the Interventional Cardiology Workforce: Why It Matters and How to Achieve It

Health care professionals continue to observe disparities in interventional cardiology associated with patient race, sex, socioeconomic status, and rurality, and the lack of diversity in the specialty is likely a major contributor. A diverse workforce will improve access to care, patient satisfaction, treatment plan adherence, clinical outcomes, and the education of a culturally sensitive workforce. However, the current sociopolitical climate is challenging the rationale supporting a diverse workforce and the methods employed to achieve it. We maintain that enhancing diversity is a rate-limiting step to reducing disparities in care. In this review, we discuss current health care inequities, the evidence that diversity will improve equitable care, barriers to enhancing diversity, and strategies to promote a diverse interventional cardiology workforce.