Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and healthcare disparities, radiologists can be powerful voices for social justice, according to Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, RSNA's science board liaison.
In a recent opinion piece in RSNA News, Dr. Meltzer discussed systematic racism and civil unrest in the U.S. and called on physicians to announce their commitments to equity. In particular, she pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the institutionalized racism of the U.S. healthcare system, with African Americans experiencing a disproportionate rate of hospitalization due to factors like underlying medical conditions and limited access to healthcare resources.
Meltzer also discussed how the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 and a series of acts of racial injustice created a "volatile mix" that precipitated the series of protests over the last several weeks.
She concluded that physicians can be a powerful voice for social justice.
"We should do better. We must," she wrote.
