Mayo Clinic doctor receives award for work in health equity

(ABC 6 News) – A physician at Mayo Clinic is being honored for her work in helping communities of color achieve health equity, and rebuilding trust in medicine with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) patients.

Dr. LaPrincess Brewer was just awarded the Robert A. Winn Career Development award for her work in diversifying clinical trials. Historically, clinical trials have been around 80 percent white, according to the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, creator of the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials awards program.

Dr. Brewer, along with physicians and researchers around the globe, say that this disparity leads to more negative health outcomes for People of Color.

“Some of the root causes of bad or adverse negative outcomes in these populations include a lack of educational or economic opportunities, lack of insurance coverage, and lack of quality health care. I wanted to use my research to help combat these health disparities,” Dr. Brewer said.

Dr. Brewer specializes in cardiovascular rehabilitation. Her research helps people who have recently had heart issues get back their strength. Patients who may not be able to travel to a care center can join a virtual rehab program from their homes.

More information on the 63 Robert A. Winn Award program members can be found here.