Fellow
Molly Thapar
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Mentor
Lucinda Kohn, MD, MHS
University of Colorado School of Medicine; Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
Overview
The negative effects of untreated skin disease disproportionately impact youth from racially and ethnically minoritized (i.e., Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native) communities. Minoritized youth face unique barriers related to social determinants of health, access pediatric dermatology less, and require more frequent visits to attain disease control. Existing studies suggest that patient and family communication preferences and healthcare provider cultural competency influence initial healthcare access and continued engagement. This proposal seeks to identify modifiable factors in how pediatric dermatologists and support staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) communicate with our patients to improve the efficiency and quality of dermatology care and reduce disparities related to pediatric dermatology access. Whereas this work will have immediate applicability to improving awareness and skin care access at the University of Colorado, it possesses generalizability to health systems elsewhere.
Status
This project was funded through a 2023 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant.