My community has struggled with the broad disparity in healthcare representation and medical research, particularly among Black women. Black women are disproportionately affected by illnesses such as fibroids, sickle cell disease, and hypertension, but they are underrepresented in clinical trials and genetic research. Their underrepresentation leads to delayed diagnoses, ineffective treatments, and an overall lack of knowledge about how these diseases affect Black women specifically. Riding this imbalance is necessary to keep Black women from getting equal healthcare, and I am determined to become part of the solution.

When I graduate from high school, I plan to study genetics, with particular interest in learning about inherited disease and the impact of genetic variations on health inequality. Through this career as a geneticist, I wish to open up the field of research to all individuals and provide proper representation for Black women and other minority groups. I want to bridge the difference between genetics and healthcare so that everyone can have access to and benefit from progress in medical science, not an elite part of society.

One of the most pressing issues in my community is the absence of education and awareness about genetic disorders that affect Black women specifically. Black women predominantly suffer from disorders such as fibroids—noncancerous tumors of the uterus—that are numerous times more prevalent than in other racial groups. To this day, there is little research done to describe why fibroids are more prevalent in Black women, and treatment is lacking. Similarly, sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder of the blood that primarily occurs in people of African descent, has historically received less funds and attention than most genetic disorders. Such omission equates to less successful treatment for individuals who contract it and poorer health outcomes.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is another widespread health problem for Black women, with genetics playing a part in its existence. Even though there is a clear connection between genetics and hypertension, studies on how genetic differences affect the effectiveness of treatment are in their infancy. Without focused research and comprehensive clinical trials, Black women are still being treated with drugs that might not be as effective for their genetic profile, leaving them at higher risk for complications like stroke or heart disease.

Through genetic research, I aim to be at the vanguard of work that tries to explain and reduce these differences. Through my subsequent education, I will be equipped with the tools and training needed to perform studies that focus on the genetic factors that cause these conditions. More deeply, I wish to contribute to more diversity in clinical trials and genetic research. Including Black women in studies will ensure more individualized and improved treatments in the long term, leading to better healthcare outcomes in the future.

Besides research, I also hope that there will be a contribution to community education. Most people from my community are unaware of how genetics influence their health and why they must interact with medical research. Disparity of the health system because of historical injustices such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study has created mistrust amongst many Black individuals towards clinical trials. I am interested in being part of bridging this trust gap by providing clear, appropriate information about genetic research and how it can be beneficial. By offering workshops, releasing informative articles, and teaming up with medical doctors, I want to empower my community with the knowledge they need to make knowledgeable choices about their health.

Representation in medicine is as important as representation in research. Black women are underrepresented as medical researchers and geneticists, and thus, many studies are conducted without the participation of the individuals most immediately affected by these health disparities. As a geneticist, I would like to be a representative for my community within the scientific community. I would like to shatter the status quo, insist on more diverse studies, and have Black women’s health problems taken seriously.

My journey into genetics is not just about personal success; it is about making a lasting impact in my community. The medical system has historically overlooked Black women, but through learning and a future profession, I hope to reverse that trend. Through engaging in genetic studies, advocating for the inclusion of diversity in clinical trials, and awareness among the people, I shall be part of the drive for health equity. Science is everybody’s business, and I am committed to ensuring Black women no longer get omitted from medical study and treatment innovation.