HARTFORD, Conn. — “Diversity Matters” are two words with significant meaning, together and separately. For two healthcare providers FOX61 spoke with, the phrase “diversity matters” connects them and motivates them to work and create change in medicine for people of color.

Whitney White is a physician assistant/associate at Hospital Medicine in Hartford, Connecticut. Every day she wakes up with a cup of coffee and a mission of change to serve the community she grew up in.

“Overall, patients feel more comfortable seeing a representation in medicine that looks like them,” White explained.

However, she said the only problem is that it’s not always easy for people of color to enter the field.

“It has a lot to do with the cost of education and knowing the profession and things like that,” White explained. “And how to get into medicine as a person of color.”

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White also explained that a lack of resources, mentorship, and tools for people of color are barriers that BIPOC communities face when trying to enter the medical profession.

“There are about a little over 100,000 APs in this country, and African Americans are a little 4-5% of that,” explained Jasmine Cofield/MS, PA-C.

Cofield and White said the lack of diversity is alarming and needs to change.

“Having diverse providers in diverse communities helps eliminate racial bias, improves competence, and is key to helping patients feel more comfortable,” White said.

“It’s a known fact that patients who see providers who are like them and can relate to them seem to have better health outcomes,” Cofield added. “And why is that? It’s because of the patient-provider relationship.”

Cofield explained that patient-provider relationships are vital.

“Patients feel heard and their needs are better considered and understood,” Cofield said. “Various providers also contribute to better chronic disease management and prevention, leading to lower mortality and morbidity rates.”

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To help strengthen communities of color, bridge the medical divide, and build trust in BIPOC communities while empowering patients through advocacy, Cofield co-founded the Physician Assistances of Color (The PAC.)

“We move together like a pack of wolves,” Cofield said with a smile on his face. “We help each other. We mentor each other, we lift each other up and over the years it has grown.”

PAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to diversifying the PA profession and empowering PA students to help them through every stage of their career. All in the hope of creating a needed change in the field of medicine.

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Almost five years after the organization was founded, it now has thousands of members across the country. Additionally, it has become the largest affinity group for current and aspiring APs of color.

Cofield said the ultimate goal is to show everyone that diversity matters in classrooms, clinics and communities.

“When I say diversity matters when we as providers say diversity matters, we want to send a clear message to our patients,” Cofield proclaimed. “We say I see you, I recognize you, I recognize you, I understand you and you are safe.”

Raquel Harrington is the race and culture reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and instagram.

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