A few weeks ago, I started asking my BIPOC patients and parents if they& #39;ve been affected by racism, or if there were racism-related health problems I need to be providing care for. It& #39;s not something I was ever trained to do, and I regret it took me this long to start.

I start by acknowledging that the question might feel awkward, but that I& #39;d rather ask an important question awkwardly than not at all. Similarly to when I started asking about gender identity as a matter of routine, the more I ask the less awkward it feels.

Every single time thus far, my BIPOC patients have been surprised that I& #39;ve asked, because nobody has ever asked before, but told me how glad they are that I did. Again, I deeply regret it has taken me this long.

If you are a medical provider and haven& #39;t started asking about the effects of racism on the health of your racially minoritized patients, I& #39;d encourage you to consider it. It& #39;s a seriously neglected part of medical education, and the care we deliver as a result.