The COVID-19 pandemic produced major disruptions in the US labor market, reshaping patterns of employment and wages across many industries. In the broader workforce, the lowest-income workers experienced some of the largest wage gains during the pandemic recovery, leading to a compression of wage disparities. However, it remains unclear whether similar patterns occurred within the…
Implicit bias among healthcare professionals is one of many factors contributing to disparities in healthcare and health outcomes. Similar to the general population, clinicians may hold unconscious attitudes or stereotypes related to race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, weight, mental illness, and other characteristics, which can influence communication, treatment decisions, and quality of care. Although…
A patient-centered approach to clinical care is associated with improved adherence, greater patient and clinician satisfaction, increased trust, reduced anxiety, and better health outcomes. Patient-centered communication (PCC) emphasizes skills such as active listening, empathy, partnership building, and understanding patients’ experiences and social context to strengthen the clinician-patient relationship. However, disparities in PCC can occur across…
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid expansion of the use of travel nurses—registered nurses (RNs) hired on short-term contracts to meet immediate labor needs. What began as a pandemic-era response has become increasingly normalized, prompting a reconsideration of the assumed relationship between professionalism and tenure. Yet little is known about how this expansion has shaped…
Attention to burnout among healthcare professionals has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with known associations of negative clinical and organizational outcomes as well as reduced quality of life. However, faculty responsible for training the next generation of healthcare professionals have received less attention, despite experiencing significant burnout. Faculty from underrepresented minority backgrounds often have additional…
In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of advancing health equity. Public health nurses—who operate at the intersection of nursing and public health—are uniquely positioned to contribute to this effort. Their roles place them at the forefront of addressing the systemic and social factors that influence health outcomes. Despite the increased…
As new equity, diversity, and inclusion programs emerge in physician assistant/associate (PA) education, there is a need to assess baseline levels of implicit and explicit biases among PA preceptors’ and trainees. This article explores implicit and explicit race (Black/White) and weight (fat/thin) biases among PA preceptors and trainees and discusses potential gaps in PA preceptor…
The healthcare sector in the US, traditionally a source of stable employment, experienced significant workforce disruptions during the pandemic, with job losses and elevated exit rates, especially among women and Black and Hispanic workers. While concerns about workforce diversity persist, little is known about who is entering the field post-pandemic, despite renewed and growing demand…
Local health departments (LHDs) play a critical role in advancing health equity by addressing health threats, collaborating with community partners, and embedding equity considerations into decision-making. However, research highlights gaps in workforce competencies, particularly in the confidence and skills needed to address social determinants of equity, structural racism, and environmental justice. This article examines the…
Health centers—often referred to as federally qualified health centers or FQHCs—play a vital role in addressing perinatal inequities. However, there is limited data on how various staffing models, including the presence of certified nurse midwives (CNMs), influence perinatal outcomes. This article identifies how different health center perinatal staffing configurations—including the availability and use of CNMs—relate…
