UPIKE Newsroom

The University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) hosted its first Minorities in Medicine series event on Monday, February 7. The series will continue on Mondays, 14 and 28, at 7 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Health Professions Education Building, to bring together underrepresented minority medical students and the physicians who have helped to pave the way.

The series is open to individuals in the healthcare field and will cover a cultural sensitivity training and discussion, a presentation on the individualized and institutional bias, microaggressions in healthcare and an open discussion on the issue of minorities and the burdens of misinformation on healthcare outcomes. 

KYCOM student Adaku Ikoh, OMS-II, is directing the series and believes the nature of the job as healthcare professionals holds them to a higher standard of accountability and responsibility. 

“The data has consistently shown how bias, discrimination and miseducation has led to negative outcomes for our patients, interprofessional relationships and overall developments in organizations. I believe in being a well-rounded healthcare provider,” said Ikoh. “Regular training and exposure to series like these will only make us better prepared to become outstanding in our chosen professions. On a more personal note, being a minority, the data is not just research to me. I live it, I see it and experience it; therefore, I believe that through open dialogue and sharing experiences, people will begin to truly understand each other, and effective change will be seen.”

For more information, contact Adaku Ikoh at adakuikoh@upike.edu.