title: Improving diversity, inclusion, and representation in radiology and radiation oncology part 2: challenges and recommendations.
abstract: The ACR Commission for Women and General Diversity is committed to identifying barriers to a diverse physician workforce in radiology and radiation oncology (RRO), and to offering policy recommendations to overcome these barriers. Part 2 of a 2-part position article from the commission addresses issues regarding diversity and inclusion in the context of career choices and professional advancement. Barriers to improving diversity and representation in RRO are reviewed. Discussion focuses on the development and implementation of concrete strategies designed to eliminate the current subspecialty disparity and highlights the need for the ACR to introduce programs and incentives with targeted and achievable goals with measurable outcomes. Recommendations are made aimed at fostering an environment of inclusion and diversity, so as to secure a successful future for all members of the RRO workforce. The future of radiology will be enhanced by increasing diversity and representation in the professional workforce, which will allow us to better address the varied needs of increasingly diverse patient populations, and to mitigate disparities in healthcare access, delivery, and outcomes. By leveraging diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills of those in RRO, we will create new, effective ways to not only educate our trainees, medical colleagues, and patients but also improve delivery of health care and our service to society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Pomona, California. Electronic address: Lightfoote@msn.com.
authors.forename: Johnson B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lightfoote
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Julia R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Curtiland
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deville
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology and Philosophy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gunderman
authors.affiliation: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Gail N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Pari V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Pandharipande
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Andre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duerinckx
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Raymond B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Macura
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011287:Prejudice / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014189:Transsexualism; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Diversity; health disparities; health policy; radiation oncology; radiology; underrepresented minorities