Latest news with #AIAN
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
VA Partners with Televeda to Expand Suicide Prevention Solution for Indigenous Veterans
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Televeda, a community engagement platform dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pilot and expand its Hero's Story Project (HSP), a culturally tailored suicide prevention program designed specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) veterans. The Hero's Story Project is a comprehensive initiative that integrates elements of traditional healing practices such as Talking Circles and storytelling, with evidence-based peer support frameworks. By combining cultural knowledge with innovative delivery models such as virtual, in-person, and hybrid sessions, the Hero's Story Project fosters peer collaboration, strengthens trust, and improves social connectedness for at-risk veteran populations. Under this initiative, Televeda will pilot and scale its services across Arizona and New Mexico, focusing on American Indian and Alaska Native veterans in rural frontier communities. Special attention will be given to creating safe peer circles for women veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma (MST), ensuring their participation is supported with sensitivity and care to foster trust and healing. The project will include formalizing partnerships with additional tribal governments and veteran service organizations (VSOs), and expanding program evaluation to enhance delivery, effectiveness, and impact. 'We are deeply grateful to the VA, our tribal and community partners, and the veterans who have helped shape this important work,' said Mayank Mishra, Co-Founder of Televeda. 'We look forward to working side by side with these collaborators to strengthen existing efforts, expand culturally responsive resources, and ensure no veteran is left without access to the VA, which is a vital protective factor in suicide prevention.' About Hero's Story Project Launched through the VA's Mission Daybreak initiative, the Hero's Story Project is a novel reimagining of peer support services for minority veteran subpopulations. By designing 'resource journeys' that connect veterans to culturally aligned support systems, the project addresses upstream factors contributing to suicide, such as social isolation, historical mistrust, and lack of access points that are responsive to the cultural and community needs of minority veterans such as AIAN veterans. The Hero's Story Project aims to increase engagement, reduce risk factors, and promote resilience and healing by equipping veterans with culturally responsible tools to strengthen family, tribal, and community ties while connecting them with essential resources. About Televeda Founded in 2018, Televeda is a digital health platform focused on reducing social isolation and increasing digital inclusion for veterans, seniors, and underserved communities across the United States. For more information or partnership opportunities, visit:
Medscape
19-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Diversity in Dermatology Residencies Improves; Gaps Remain
Dermatology residency programs saw modest gains in racial and ethnic diversity from 2020 to 2024, but underrepresented groups remain disproportionately low compared with their share of the US population. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed national data on dermatology residents from the Association of American Medical Colleges from 2020 to 2024. They evaluated racial and ethnic representation trends and calculated rate ratios comparing residency demographics with the US population data. The analysis included comparison of underrepresented minority resident (American Indian or Alaska Native [AIAN], Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander [NHPI]) percentages across five historically less diverse specialties: Dermatology, neurological surgery, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, and integrated plastic surgery. TAKEAWAY: Black representation among dermatology residents rose from 4.6% to 8.7%, and Hispanic or Latino representation increased from 6.6% to 8.9%. NHPI representation declined from 0.2% to 0.1%, and AIAN representation remained steady at 0.7%. The rate ratio for Black residents compared with the US population demographics improved from 0.38 to 0.71, and for Hispanic residents from 0.35 to 0.47. Dermatology showed the highest annual increase in underrepresented minority residents (2.11% per year) among historically less diverse specialties, though it still lags behind specialties like obstetrics and gynecology. The total number of underrepresented minority residents grew from 185 in 2022 to 267 in 2024, still short of the 463 needed to meet the American Academy of Dermatology Pathways initiative goal of a 150% increase by 2027. IN PRACTICE: 'Despite incremental improvements in diversity, sustained mentorship, pipeline development, and outreach efforts remain the key drivers of these gains,' the study authors wrote. 'To ensure long-term progress, residency programs should track diversity metrics to better align recruitment with the demographics of their local communities,' they added. SOURCE: The study was led by Devin Barzallo, BA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland. It was published online on May 14 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology . LIMITATIONS: The authors did not list any study limitations. DISCLOSURES: The study did not receive any funding. The authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. Credit Lead image: Monkey Business Images/Dreamstime Medscape Medical News © 2025 WebMD, LLC Cite this: Edited by Deepa Varma. Diversity in Dermatology Training Programs Improves, but Gaps Remain - Medscape - May 19, 2025.
