How to Measure Racism in Academic Health Centers

AMA J Ethics. 2021 Feb 1;23(2):E140-145. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2021.140.

Abstract

Institutional racism is a set of practices and policies that disadvantage individuals not part of societies' dominant groups. In academic health centers (AHCs), institutional racism mediates structural racism; it is embedded in institutional policies, clinical practice, health professional training, and biomedical research. Measuring institutional racism in AHCs at the individual, intra-organizational, and extra-organizational levels renders visible how AHCs mediate structural racism by implementing policies that unfairly treat minority groups.

MeSH terms

  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Minority Groups
  • Organizations
  • Racism*