Dr. Olawaiye on How to Address Disparities in Cancer Care

Alexander B. Olawaiye, MD, director, Gynecologic Oncology Research Program, professor, Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Hospital, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center, discusses how to address disparities in cancer care.

Severe outcome disparities exist for cancer patients in the United States, based on racial and socioeconomical factors, Olawaiye says. If health-care providers and oncologists hope to improve cancer treatment outcomes, optimal care must be provided to all patients under any circumstances, Olawaiye explains.

The first step toward addressing these disparities is to acknowledge their existence, since patients currently receive varying levels of care, and all patients need access to the same care, regardless of race, background, or sociogenic status, Olawaiye continues. Awareness alone will generate a conscious attempt to address these problems moving forward, Olawaiye concludes.