Commentary: A timely statement - Reducing the impact of violence on the health status of African-Americans: Literature review and recommendations from the Society of Black Academic Surgeons

Dr. Joseph and her co-authors on behalf of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) carefully and thoroughly describe the deleterious impact of violence on the health status of African-Americans and provide clear recommendations for how to rectify this significant public health concern. The 201...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of surgery 2018-11, Vol.216 (5), p.833-834
Main Author: Butler, Paris D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans
Aggression
Collaboration
Education
Firearms
Health Status
Humans
Law enforcement
Literature reviews
Medical personnel
Murders & murder attempts
Public health
Surgeons
Violence
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Summary:Dr. Joseph and her co-authors on behalf of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) carefully and thoroughly describe the deleterious impact of violence on the health status of African-Americans and provide clear recommendations for how to rectify this significant public health concern. The 2015 collaboration between the American College of Surgeons and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to exhaustively discuss means for improving optimal access to surgical care for all individuals is a prime example of how federal and private entities can produce valuable results when resources are aligned.1 Universally improving education on the impact of violence on the health status of African-Americans can not be overstated. With the understanding that African-Americans comprise 12.4% of the US population,2 it is unsettling to be informed that according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program African-Americans comprised 37% of the homicide victims.3 This over representation takes on further significance when aware of the fact that African-Americans only comprise 2.9% of all US academic surgeons.4 If young African-Americans and other under-represented minorities continue to be killed at disproportionately higher rates, experience non-fatal injuries, and be exposed to community violence at disproportionately higher rates, how will the majority of them be able to succeed and compete academically?
ISSN:0002-9610
1879-1883
DOI:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.002