NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: Members of the media and public are invited to a webinar on Tuesday, December 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET. To register, please contact Emily Ligon at eligon@keybridge.biz.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET, the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) will host a webinar discussing the importance of cultural competence and diversity in research to reduce health disparities in the rare disease community.
“Communities of color are disproportionately burdened by rare diseases, yet remain vastly underrepresented in clinical trials. As a result, patients of color have limited access to new treatments and medications that reach the market may not work effectively for a diverse patient population,” said Jenifer Ngo Waldrop, executive director of RDDC. “It is vital that the healthcare community closes this gap to ensure equitable care for all.”
Expert panelists will detail roadblocks limiting diversity in clinical research — from physician bias, to cultural and language barriers, to a lack of diversity in clinical trial design and administration — and will explore how to best address these obstacles. Speakers include:
- Harsha Rajasimha, M.S., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Jeeva Informatics Solutions.
- Tia Robertson, M.D., M.S., FACOG, medical director of the Gaston County Health Department.
- Sarita Edwards, patient advocate and CEO and president of the E.WE Foundation.
- Martine Hackett, Ph.D., associate professor and director of public health programs at Hofstra University.
- Moderator: Agnes Costello, Pharm.D., MSc., owner of Costello Consulting.
Launched in 2020 by The Black Women’s Health Imperative, RDDC is a partnership of the nation’s leading rare disease experts, patient and provider organizations, and health equity advocates working to address the extraordinary challenges faced by rare disease patients of color. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, RDDC aims to advance evidence-based solutions to achieve greater equality within the rare disease community. Learn more at www.rarediseasediversity.org.
The Black Women’s Health Imperative is the first and only national non-profit organization created for and by Black women dedicated to improving the health and wellness of our nation’s 22 million Black women and girls — physically, emotionally, and financially. Our core mission is advancing health equity and social justice for Black women, across their lifespan, through policy, advocacy, education, research, and leadership development. For more information, please visit www.bwhi.org.
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