Change Management Strategies Toward Dismantling Race-Based Structural Barriers in Radiology

Abstract

Political momentum for antiracist policies grew out of the collective trauma highlighted during the COVID pandemic. This prompted discussions of root cause analyses for differences in health outcomes among historically underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities. Dismantling structural racism in medicine is an ambitious goal that requires widespread buy-in and transdisciplinary collaborations across institutions to establish systematic, rigorous approaches that enable sustainable change. Radiology is at the center of medical care and renewed focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) provides an opportune window for radiologists to facilitate an open forum to address racialized medicine to catalyze real and lasting change. The framework of change management can help radiology practices create and maintain this change while minimizing disruption. This article discusses how change management principles can be leveraged by radiology to lead EDI interventions that will encourage honest dialogue, serve as a platform to support institutional EDI efforts, and lead to systemic change.

Keywords: Change Management; Equity Diversity and Inclusion; Health Equity; Leadership; Racism.