Historically speaking, anatomical education hasn’t always been diverse. Here at Complete Anatomy, it is well known that we have been aiming to change historical bias when it comes to teaching and learning anatomy. Our first step towards this was introducing our full female model back in 2021 and then our customization options the following year that allow you to choose the skin tone and facial characteristics of the anatomical model you learn from. We are very happy to say that when looking at our usage stats, the female model is chosen twice as much as the male model. Not only this, but 77% of users are opting for diverse skin tones and facial characteristic combinations (ie. One that is not of the Northern European phenotype). To celebrate the strides we are making in diversity and inclusion let’s take a look at some encouraging stats globally!
When looking at healthcare today we can see big improvements with inclusion in research, education, and protocols. For example, in 2024 the FDA issued new guidance aimed at increasing the diversity of clinical trial populations. This guidance will lead to more robust data on how new treatments affect women, thereby improving the safety and efficacy of these treatments for female patients. Such work can help in areas such as maternal mortality rates. In 2023, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a decline in maternal mortality rates in the United States.
It has been highlighted that there tends to be a bias against women in the treatment of pain. In 2024 The Lancet published a paper discussing the implementation of new pain management protocols that specifically address gender differences. These protocols would lead to more effective pain management in female patients.
Aside from women’s health, there is also work on improving care for diverse populations. In 2024, Research published in Current Dermatology Reports highlighted advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) for dermatology. The study showed that new AI algorithms trained on diverse datasets improved the accuracy of diagnosing skin conditions in people of colour by 20%. This is a big step in addressing bias in AI and correcting it to highlight conditions that are often overlooked on different skin tones.
Although we continue to make great progress in terms of diversity and inclusion in healthcare, so much more is still to be done! Starting from when a medical student first opens a textbook, to when they are a clinician working with patients from different backgrounds. Including diversity in education and practice can only benefit more people around the world.
–Center of Disease Control, National Center of Disease Statistics
