Disparities and Inequities Among Patients with Central Nervous System Tumor

Abstract

Since the 2002 Institute of Medicine report, which many cite as a landmark in first defining and calling attention to the concept of health disparities in medicine, much work has been dedicated to characterizing health disparities in medical care with the aim of eliminating them. Importantly, this report, "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care," laid bare the differences in quality of health care that are based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Here, the authors elaborate on these issues and discuss the role of the neuro-oncologic workforce in potentially mitigating these disparities.

Keywords: Brain tumors; Disparate care; Diversity; Health equity; Neuro-oncology; Workforce.