A Reflection on Diversity

 

As a Black female physician, Dr. Toni Stockton has dedicated her career to shedding light on why diversity, equity, and inclusion matter in medicine. With over 30 years of experience in dermatology, Dr. Stockton’s uplifting spirit and endless drive to succeed have led to a thriving practice – Stockton Dermatology in Phoenix, Arizona – where both she and her staff address all manner of skin conditions and cosmetic needs. 

 

Dr. Stockton believes that a diverse workforce can lead to better medicine. Recognizing and celebrating what makes a person unique – be it someone’s skin color, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or even political views – can enhance the patient experience by brokering more honest, open dialogue. 

 

Reflecting on Lack of Diversity and How we Improve

“Having a diverse workforce leads to better patient care. It starts with respecting differences amongst staff and patients when it comes to religious, political, and ethnic views” states Dr. Stockton. It continues with creating an environment in which staff feel comfortable in asking questions about race, gender, or age and getting answers without scrutiny. During the interview for Arizona Physician, one of her Caucasian physician assistants asked about an oil hair care product for a Black female patient without the worry of any type of scrutiny from her or their colleagues. That type of open communication with her diverse team translates to ensuring patients receive medical care and dermatological products that more appropriately match their racial skin type.

 

According to Paul Rothman, M.D., Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, “while racial and ethnic minorities make up 26 percent of the total U.S. population, only about 6 percent of practicing physicians and 9 percent of nurses are Latinx, African-American or Native American.” With minority populations representing the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population, a more racially and culturally diverse healthcare workforce will ultimately translate into better patient care when health professionals are culturally competent, helping them better identify with the people they are serving.[i]

Dr. Stockton has experienced a lack of cultural competency from healthcare colleagues and other professionals throughout her journey as a physician. She shares multiple examples of cultural and gender insensitivity.

 

Dr. Stockton shared how a seemingly simple encounter during a dermatology rotation provided a teachable moment on the importance of cultural sensitivity. During a routine patient visit, the attending physician (who was Caucasian) told a Black woman that she needed to wash her hair daily to treat her dandruff. “That’s just not possible for a person of color, I had to explain to the doctor,” said Dr. Stockton. Without the valuable cultural context to fully understand how Black people take care of their hair, the doctor in this scenario missed a critical opportunity to deliver quality care.

 

On a flight home with her husband, she shares, “over the PA system, the flight crew asked for a physician as someone on the flight needed attention. A male Caucasian nurse volunteered first. He was not asked for credentials of any form and they took his word that he was a nurse. When I decided to volunteer, the flight attendants involved with the ailing patient looked me up and down and asked me to prove my credentials to help.” The difference in the approach applied by the flight crew highlights why other physicians of color may not be willing to volunteer and help, as they may feel unjustly scrutinized.

 

As a physician and leader in dermatology, Dr. Stockton attends many conferences and seminars, including some at which she speaks. In one such conference, she shares, “I go to registration and I am asked, ‘Are you in the wrong place?’” We can only wonder how many physicians of color are made to feel they do not belong with their colleagues at medical education events.

 

Even though most professions focus on overcoming racial discrimination, Dr. Stockton also believes gender bias remains in medicine. “I have been singled out as the woman in the room,” she said. “You know, I’m the combo package. I’m Black and female.”

Taking these experiences – and others like it – to heart, Dr. Stockton emphasizes how important it is for physicians and their staffs like hers to feel comfortable asking questions and to avoid passing judgment on others who may look or act differently. Personhood goes so much deeper than what someone may see on the surface.

 

Age and experience have taught Dr. Stockton to look at biases differently than when she was younger, yet it is important to not ignore them and to turn a negative experience into a teachable moment. To Dr. Stockton, “we are in a better place today when it comes to diversity in the workplace,” but that “nirvana” moment will truly come when society and those in medicine can look past the labels that define a person by their gender, race, or age and instead recognize the great work they do to help others.