UW Medical Students Pioneer New Pathway For Black Health Justice

By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) offers unique opportunities for medical students to pursue specialized interests and develop advanced knowledge. One prominent example is the Black Health Justice Pathway, a program focused on addressing systemic oppression and health disparities affecting Black communities. This pathway aims to equip future physicians with the tools to advocate for health equity both during their education and in their professional practices. The Black Health Justice Pathway provides students with foundational knowledge to assess health inequities through a critical lens. It is designed to help students advocate for health equity within the UWSOM, in Black communities, and in their future careers. According to Holly Kennison, Healthcare Equity Pathway Program Manager at the UWSOM, pathway programs are becoming more popular around the nation within medical schools, but remain relatively rare, and the UWSOM highlights this as a significant benefit of its medical program. – Advertisement – Launched in 2019 by five UW medical students, the Black Health Justice Pathway targets those interested in working with urban and underserved communities. Students enrolled in this pathway participate in a rigorous course that examines African American health disparities, covering issues and goals...