In March 1966 at a Medical Committee for Human Rights convention, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane...”
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18, a few faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) shared their thoughts on how biomedical informatics plays an important role in improving health equity for all.
Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FACMI, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor and chair of DBMI; professor of Pediatrics and Informatician-in-Chief at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says the following:
"As we celebrate the life of MLK, we in Biomedical Informatics must internalize the notion that 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' Our role is to use science to discover and deploy data and information management approaches enabling equitable solutions to health challenges. Each of us working for change is a part of the tapestry of justice."
Wei-Qi Wei, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in DBMI, says, "As a member of the Center for Precision Medicine, we need to tackle the health inequity issue before precision medicine can benefit every one of us."
Yaa Kumah-Crystal, MD, Assistant Professor in DBMI and Pediatric Endocrinology, says, "Informatics is all about people, process, and technology. When the contributing people represent the glorious diversity in our world, it manifests in processes and technologies that reflect our world's diverse needs."
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts about health equity and biomedical informatics, comment on this thread on the DBMI's Twitter account.