Increasing diversity in the medical field has been identified as one way to help reduce distrust among patients of color and to help narrow the racial gap in healthcare outcomes. Historically, Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans have been under-represented in the medical field. It is a disparity that continues to exist today.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, just 5-percent of physicians identify as Black or African-American, despite making up 13-percent of the population. About six-percent of physicians identify as Hispanic, compared to the 19-percent that make up the overall population.

The AAMC found in a recent study that fewer Black men applied and enrolled in medical school in 2014 than compared to 1978.

To help improve diversity in medical schools, the Cleveland Clinic has partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine, a historically Black College and University, in a physician pipeline program to increase under-represented students pursuing healthcare career tracks.

A spending bill moving forward in Congress would put billions toward reducing the impact of climate change. The bill would also tackle prescription drug prices and lower the federal deficit.

Democrats are calling the bill the Inflation Reduction Act but Republicans say it will do just the opposite. The non-partisan Office of Budget Management says the impact on inflation will be negligible.

Strongsville writer Angie Hockman has a new novel about a summer of love. Set in Cleveland, "Dream On" is a romantic comedy that follows a young professional finding her way in life after a major injury. Upon waking from a coma, the main character has memories of dating someone she never met-until she actually does meet him a year later. Author Angie Hockman gets into more of the details in conversation with Ideastream Public Media's Carrie Wise.



Guests:
Lee Kirksey, MD, Vice Chairman, Department of Vascular Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Zaria Gouthier, Graduate, Clark Atlanta University
Sanaai Wynn, Senior, Spelman College
Andy Chow, News Editor, Statehouse News Bureau, Ohio Public Radio/TV
Angie Hockman, Author, "Dream On"
Carrie Wise, Ideastream Public Media