DEI Isn’t Wasteful. It’s Necessary for Good Medicine. Written by Rachel Bergmans

Lupus patients show us exactly why features of DEI must survive. This life-long autoimmune disease is two to four times more common among Black people than white people. Black people also have a higher risk of death and disability due to lupus. The reason for these disparities is not fully known. Meanwhile, Black people are underrepresented in treatment development.

Lisa Thomas helps explain how history and bias affect underrepresentation in lupus research. Thomas is a lupus warrior (a patient-preferred term) and the event organizer for an advocacy organization called Lupus Detroit. “It’s been passed down through generations. Women of color often endure pain in silence while caring for everyone else,” she told me. “Even when we finally speak up, healthcare professionals can treat us like we’re exaggerating, seeking drugs, or just trying to get disability benefits. This results in us becoming silent once again.” 
https://time.com/7333975/dei-lupus-research-treatment/