Objective:

To investigate the perception among U.S. black neurologists for the national need for more black neurologists  and to analyze their perception of racial inequity issues and of a need to close disparity gaps. 

Background:

Although many neurologic conditions are more prevalent among blacks only 3% of US neurologists identify themselves as such. There is a disparity in the healthcare administered to black patients, but it is not clear how black neurologists perceive such disparities and how inequalities affect their practice. 

Design/Methods:

Survey consisting of 22 questions sent via e-mail to the members of the American Society of Black Neurologists (SBN). The survey inquired about the perception of racial inequality and about the perception of a need to close disparity gaps. 

Results:

 The sample included 26 participants, 15 (57%) were women and 17 (65%) had practiced for 10 or less years. 25 respondents (96%) agreed that increasing the number of black neurologists would help minimize neurology healthcare disparities while 23 (88%) participants agreed that because of their race, they had fewer chances to make mistakes than white counterparts. Among respondents 25 (96%) agreed that increasing black neurologists in academia would increase interest in neurology among black medical students. Among respondents 13 (70%) joined in hopes of recruiting more black medical students into neurology, 5 (25%) joined because they experienced the perception of being an outsider at their workplace, and 25 (96%) agreed that during their journey in medicine they had been treated differently because of their race. Apprehension to speak up when witnessing mistreatment towards a black patient was admitted by 6 (23%) respondents. 

Conclusions:

In this study most black neurologists identified a need for more black neurologists to minimize healthcare disparities and admitted being discriminated during their clinical training and professional life because of their ethnicity.