Racism as a Public Health Crisis: A Qualitative Case Series of Public Health Responses in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia Area

Background The recent growing awareness of racism as a public health crisis has been hailed step in the right direction to addressing racial disparities. However, contemporary nature these declarations and diversity responses pose important challenges. Objective: To evaluate whether declaring is mere rhetoric or true catalyst for change. Materials & Methods Four officials Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia area were recruited participate series in-depth interviews. Collected interview data subsequently analyzed qualitatively common themes. Results Participants across interviews emphasized importance naming defining characterized an upstream root described framework achieving equity by building trust with community collaborating non–health sector partners. Local agencies have examined new strategies address disparities, such increased hiring into initiatives, expansion involvement, internal workplace inclusivity unconscious bias training. Future challenges progress include lack control over policy well funding, staffing, time constraints. Conclusions results this study indicate shared understanding among participants regarding influence on disparate care delivery medical outcomes. In their efforts improve equity, local implemented variety strategies, but remains incremental. Further, without engagement policymakers, partners, community, organizations face substantial obstacles dismantle structural racism.