Teaching health disparities in vascular surgery training programs

Abstract

Health disparities occur due to complex interactions of individual and environmental factors in the presence of structural inequities and social determinants of health, and disproportionately impact disadvantaged and vulnerable patient populations. Vascular surgery cares for a diverse patient population who often experience socioeconomic disadvantage. Understanding the complex reasons for differences in presentation, management, and outcomes in vulnerable patient populations is critical to providing optimal vascular surgical care and mitigating health disparities. We outline the need for implementation of health disparities curriculum in graduate medical education and proposes a framework for health disparities curriculum development specific to vascular surgery.