2024 AOSSM Annual Meeting Recordings no CME-Game Changer Session: The Unequal Playing Field—Addressing Health Disparities in Sports Medicine with the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society

Game Changer Session: The Unequal Playing Field—Addressing Health Disparities in Sports Medicine with the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society

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Video Summary

The session, led by Dr. Kwadwo Wusu-Achow, discussed a delayed diagnosis case of an ACL tear in a young African-American athlete. Initial staff had dismissed his concerns as a knee sprain, leading to a delay in treatment. Dr. Wusu-Achow highlighted systemic issues of racial bias in pain perception and access to care, tracing back to historical pseudoscientific beliefs. He referenced studies indicating significant disparities in the time from diagnosis to treatment for ACL injuries among Black and Hispanic patients, attributed to socioeconomic and geographic factors like redlining.<br /><br />The session included two research presentations. Dr. Bill Mosoros presented a study associating lower socioeconomic status with recurrent shoulder instability before surgical stabilization. The study found significant delays in treatment for lower-status patients, leading to worse outcomes. Isabelle Shalem from NYU Langone discussed racial and income disparities in outcomes following multiligament knee injuries, showing that non-white and low-income patients reported worse patient-reported outcomes.<br /><br />Billy McMullen shared his personal experience as an athlete, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and relationship building between doctors and patients to foster trust and improve care. Dr. Riley Williams discussed his empathetic approach to engaging athletes, aiming to bridge gaps and provide comprehensive care. Dr. Eric Carson highlighted efforts to create access in underserved areas like Harlem, referencing initiatives like Clarence Shields' HEAL program.<br /><br />The session concluded with audience comments and questions, emphasizing the need for athletic trainers in schools to address disparities and a call for action from the AOSSM to support such initiatives. The importance of collective acknowledgment, evidence-based approaches, and the development of programs to address healthcare disparities was highlighted.

Asset Caption

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

Meta Tag

Speaker Kwadwo Owusu-Akyaw, MD

Speaker Eric Carson, MD

Speaker Vasilios Moutzouros, MD

Speaker Isabel Chalem, BS

Speaker Billy McMullen (Guest Speaker)

Speaker Riley J. Williams, III, MD

Keywords

ACL tear

racial bias

pain perception

socioeconomic factors

healthcare disparities

multiligament knee injuries

shoulder instability

athlete care

HEAL program

AOSSM initiatives

Kwadwo Owusu-Akyaw, MD

Eric Carson, MD

Vasilios Moutzouros, MD

Isabel Chalem, BS

Billy McMullen (Guest Speaker)

Riley J. Williams, III, MD