OBJECTIVE. This article introduces key concepts of inequity as they apply to interventional radiology, from both the patient and the physician perspectives, to ultimately improve the health care of all patients. CONCLUSION. By directing society's efforts toward addressing health care disparities, our specialty may begin to establish trust and partnerships with populations that are disproportionately affected and those that have been historically exploited and disenfranchised by medicine in the name of innovation. Although we may look to close the equity gap by understanding health care disparities as they pertain to our patient populations, a closer examination of barriers of entry into medicine for underrepresented minorities reveals numerous disparities across race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Keywords: diversity; equity; health care disparities; inclusion; medical education pipelines.