Decolonizing Medical Education, Research and Practice

Decolonizing Medical Education, Research and Practice provides comprehensive insights into the decolonization of medicine by focusing on three key aspects: curricula, research and medical practice. There is a gap of in-depth and thorough analysis of decolonization that covers these three facets. The process of decolonization is complex and multifaceted. For example, colonialism contributed to and perpetuated false beliefs about racial hierarchies and differences in physiology based on race. Such ideas historically influenced medical research efforts, education, and practice, resulting in discriminatory treatment of some research subjects and patients. Moreover, attempts to address such issues can be challenging as existing medical and biomedical sciences curricula are rooted in Eurocentric perspectives and historical traditions. The harms of colonialism and systemic racism remain as they are often structurally embedded in populations to thereby perpetuate inequity and access to healthcare. The first part of this book explores these challenges providing an in-depth and critical analysis of such issues. The second part focuses on potential solutions and includes case studies which attempt to address such challenges. With the goal of establishing a fair, inclusive, culturally sensitive and representative healthcare system to serve communities at a global level and while undoing traumatic experiences from the past. Written by global experts for academics at medical schools/colleges, under- and postgraduate students pursuing medical, allied health and biomedical sciences, postdoctoral fellows, doctors/clinicians, health care professionals, leaders at universities, leaders in research and healthcare, as well as policy makers.

• Presents practical and theoretical ways to decolonize medical and allied health sciences curricula, research and clinical practice
• Informs medical and biomedical researchers of the false premise of using racial groups in clinical studies
• Shares unique insights on how colonialism and persistent scientific racism have influenced clinical practices