This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Versha Pleasant, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan and Director of the Cancer Genetics and Breast Health Clinic at Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. They discuss ongoing disparities in healthcare, in particular why black women in the US have a 40% higher chance of dying from breast cancer than white women, the impact of the US Educate Act on equality, diversity and inclusion education, and much more.
00:00:00 – Intro to The Genetics Podcast
00:01:52 – Welcome to Versha
00:03:22 – How black women have a 40% higher chance of mortality from breast cancer than white women, and the biggest drivers of this disparity
00:07:09 – Multifaceted approaches to addressing disparities
00:09:10 – Racial health duplicity and increasing access to genetic testing and mammography for black women
00:13:51 – The challenges of using precision medicine to stratify risk in black communities and historical harms in US medical research
00:14:29 – How to design for inclusive studies that effectively represent communities of colour
00:16:13 – Considering universal genetic testing and counseling for black women
00:21:24 – The logistics of making universal testing a reality, and the importance of community education and trust building
00:27:18 – What Versha is focused on next and the big topics she wants to tackle
00:33:24 – The role of community education and diversifying modes of communication for knowledge sharing
00:34:36 – Versha’s perspectives on the US Educate Act and the impact it could have on what doctors of the future are taught
00:40:52 – Versha’s advice to people who would like to pursue a similar career in medicine
00:43:28 – Where Patrick sees genetics evolving in the next ten years and his vision for the future of The Genetics Podcast
00:47:39 – Closing remarks
Find out more
Universal Genetic Counseling and Testing for Black Women: A Risk-Stratified Approach to Addressing Breast Cancer Disparities: https://www.clinical-breast-cancer.com/article/S1526-8209(24)00338-0/fulltext
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