Colour in the Clinic: A Black History Month Talk Series on Representation in Medicine

Representation in medicine matters—not just in who enters the profession, but in how medicine is taught and practiced. This Black History Month, Black Medics UK hosted "Colour in the Clinic," an important talk series exploring the crucial role of diversity and inclusivity in medical education and clinical practice. With over 220 registrations, the series sparked vital conversations on how the medical landscape is evolving to better serve diverse populations.

Why This Series?

For too long, medical education has overlooked the nuances of diversity. Textbooks have historically centred on white, Eurocentric models, leading to gaps in how conditions present across different skin tones. Implicit biases—shaped by these educational materials—can impact clinical decision-making, often with real-world consequences for patient outcomes.

Through this talk series, we brought together medical professionals and student leaders who are actively challenging these gaps. Each session explored a different aspect of representation in medicine, from anatomical education to implicit bias in clinical practice.

Key Sessions & Takeaways

📌 7th October: Anatomical Education and Representation

Speaker: Aisia Lea

Medical textbooks and learning resources often fail to depict darker skin tones and diverse anatomical examples, leaving critical gaps in knowledge. Aisia Lea’s session highlighted how student-led initiatives are reshaping the curriculum to be more inclusive, ensuring that all patients receive equitable care.

📌 15th October: Dermatological Conditions Across Diverse Populations

Speaker: Dr. Kaylita Chantiluke

Misdiagnoses in dermatology disproportionately affect patients with darker skin due to underrepresentation in training materials. Dr. Chantiluke’s talk explored real-world healthcare inequities and how we can better prepare future doctors to recognise conditions across all skin tones.

📌 21st October: Implicit Bias in Clinical Decision-Making

Speaker: Natasha Noel-Barker

How do our early learning experiences shape the way we assess and treat patients? This session investigated the role of implicit bias in medical decision-making, shedding light on initiatives that aim to create more equitable and inclusive healthcare education.

📌 28th October: Ethnicity in the Medical Curriculum

Speakers: Jennifer Koenig, Shannon Hylton, Julianne Awoleye

Should ethnicity play a role in medical diagnoses? While ethnicity is often cited as a risk factor in medicine, its inclusion in the curriculum can sometimes be misleading or poorly applied. This session unpacked common misconceptions and proposed a more holistic, evidence-based approach to integrating ethnicity into medical education.

The Impact

With over 220 attendees, this series showed just how crucial these conversations are. The overwhelming engagement and thought-provoking discussions reaffirmed the need for continued advocacy for a more inclusive and representative medical education system.

At Black Medics UK, we believe that change starts with awareness and action. If you’re passionate about transforming medical education and ensuring that all patients receive the care they deserve, join our growing community.

📢 Stay connected, be part of the movement, and help shape the future of medicine.

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