J Natl Med Assoc
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The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of medical students who are underrepresented in medicine (UIM) from two urban medical centers with an interest in pursuing academic pediatrics. ⋯ Early mentorship for UIM medical students is important to increase exposure to academic pediatrics. Future study on the experience of UIM medical students and their pursuit of academic roles could help produce a more diverse workforce. Also, pipeline programs for students to be exposed to academic pediatrics early in their education career would be beneficial.
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Case Reports
An Adrenal Incidentaloma Diagnosed as Dopamine-Secreting Pheochromocytoma: A Case Report.
Dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas are exceedingly rare. ⋯ Patients with dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas are mostly asymptomatic, leading to a significant delay in diagnosis. There is a large possibility for dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas to show a malignant tendency than the adrenergic and noradrenergic phenotypes. The a-adrenergic receptor blocker is not indicated for preoperative medical treatment because it can cause hypotension and cardiovascular failure. Calcium channel blockers or metyrosine may be better alternatives. All patients with pheochromocytomas should receive targeted genetic testing based on specific clinical features. SDHB, SDHD, RET, VHL and NF1 mutations are suggested for genetic testing of adrenal dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas.
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In these unprecedented times, Black medical professionals must deliver excellent medical care and uphold the highest standards of their profession while living through a devastating pandemic. They must do so in a time when the country tries to reconcile with generations of racism and injustice. The current social environment in America is particularly challenging for medical trainees such as medical students and resident physicians who must focus on their educational requirements and careers in settings that are often averse to addressing topics such as racism. This plight is not new for Black medical trainees, as they have been fighting for centuries to obtain an equitable seat at the table of medical education. Throughout the 19th century and early 20th century, Black physicians were repeatedly disenfranchised from the predominantly white medical societies, most notably the American Medical Association (AMA), which was established in 1847. Racially integrated medical organizations such as the National Medical Society of Washington D.C. (NMS), which was founded in 1870, were developed to challenge discriminatory practices of the American Medical Association against Black practitioners. The inception of the National Medical Association (NMA) in 1895 allowed Black doctors to advocate for disadvantaged patient populations and focus efforts on health issues pertinent to the underserved. ⋯ To improve these matriculation statistics, it is critical that institutions integrate innovative measures such as robust recruitment pipelines to expose underrepresented high school and college students to the medical field, as well as seek diversity actively in administration to dismantle the ingrained ideologies of systemic racism rooted in healthcare and medical education. To combat the institutionalized racism that has plagued medical education throughout its existence, collaboration as a unified front is essential to achieving the equity and social justice in healthcare that patients deserve.
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Outcome differences driven by variation in Blacks' biologic response to treatment may contribute to persistent racial disparities in asthma morbidity and mortality. This review assessed systematic variation in β2 agonist treatment outcomes among Blacks compared to other groups. ⋯ Evidence suggests the potential for differences in β2 agonist outcomes among Blacks compared with other groups. This literature, however, remains small and significantly underpowered for substantive conclusions. There are notable opportunities for adequately-powered investigations exploring safety and efficacy of β2 agonists among Blacks, including pharmacogenomic modifiers of response.