SALT LAKE CITY After seeing a number of Black Americans killed in 2020 including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, to name a few Utah doctors knew the country s treatment of people of color needed to change in many aspects, and especially in health care.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and highlighted health disparities among minority populations with a disproportionate number of individuals in marginalized communities at a higher risk to become infected. We have seen that Utah is not exempt from experiencing inequities, as one can see with the striking disproportion of cases of COVID-19 in our communities of color, said Dr. Paloma Cariello, associate dean for health equity, diversity and inclusion in the University of Utah School of Medicine.