Instructors
Melissa Wright, MBA
Director of Patient Engagement & Outreach, LymeDisease.org
Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD
Education Co-director, VectorWise CME
Description
This course uses two illustrative cases and CDC surveillance case data to discuss racial/ethnic health inequities and disparities in Lyme disease. It also discusses the role of improved clinician education in reducing known health disparities.
Learning objectives
- Describe the key elements that impact racial disparities in Lyme disease
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Identify early Lyme disease in people of color
Accreditation Statement
This session, Racial Disparities in Lyme Disease,, is approved for 0.25 enduring AAFP Prescribed credits.
The AAFP has reviewed One Health Medical Education for a Changing Climate, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.
Evidence-based bibliography for further study
- Sudat SEK, Wesson P, Rhoads KF, et al. Racial Disparities in Pulse Oximeter Device Inaccuracy and Estimated Clinical Impact on COVID-19 Treatment Course. Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(5):703-713. doi:10.1093/aje/kwac164
- Fawzy A, Wu TD, Wang K, et al. Racial and Ethnic Discrepancy in Pulse Oximetry and Delayed Identification of Treatment Eligibility Among Patients With COVID-19 [published correction appears in JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Oct 1;182(10):1108]. JAMA Intern Med. 2022;182(7):730-738. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1906
- https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01394
- Yagoda N. Addressing Health Disparities Through Voter Engagement. Ann Fam Med. Sep 2019, 17 (5) 459-461; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2441
- https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/reports/access-to-care-education-2022/index.html
- Nelson CA, Starr JA, Kugeler KJ, Mead PS. Lyme Disease in Hispanics, United States, 2000-2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(3):522-525. doi:10.3201/eid2203.151273
- Louie P, Wilkes R. Representations of race and skin tone in medical textbook imagery. Soc SciMed. 2018;202:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.02.023Nolan S. How Medical Education Is Missing the Bull’s-eye. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:2489-2491 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1915891
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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-01-25/3d-anatomy-models-bring-racial-representation-to-med-schools
About the Instructor
Melissa Wright, MBA
Director of Patient Engagement & Outreach, LymeDisease.org
Melissa Wright currently serves as the Director of Patient Engagement & Outreach for LymeDisease.org, a non-profit patient advocacy organization; and Project Manager for MyLymeData, a project of LymeDisease.org, a patient registry and research platform. She boasts 17 years of experience in the healthcare space, with the last seven and a half years representing the Lyme patient community in government testimony, panel moderation, and registry management. Melissa has co-authored an evidence-based poster using data from the MyLymeData patient registry that has been used at professional conferences for Lyme disease. Prior to joining LymeDisease.org, Melissa worked in the healthcare field for 10 years, with a myriad of exposure to the patient experience. She has worked and consulted in the private practice setting improving patient care and medical billing practices. Melissa believes in the power of the patient voice, and that it should be at the center of all aspects of healthcare; so that each patient and those that care for them are able to make informed decisions concerning their healthcare.