12 November 2024 < minute read
Nicole AnyanwuThe health disparity that I'm most interested in solving is disparities in surgical oncology, because I believe that insurance barriers create unequal access to life-saving, innovative treatments. Too often, patients with limited or inadequate insurance face significant obstacles to receiving the newer and most effective surgical interventions for cancer. These disparities not only impact a patient’s prognosis, but also their quality of life and long-term survival outcomes, as I learned while shadowing grand rounds this past summer. The gap in access to cutting-edge technology, like robot-operated surgery or targeted radiation therapies, is driven by insurance companies’ restrictive policies, which prioritize cost-saving measures over equitable care. It’s frustrating to see how these inequities disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and I am committed to advocating for systemic changes that ensure all patients, regardless of their financial status, have access to the best possible care in their cancer journey.