Medical Student Research Forum Posters

African Americans and Latinos face significant health disparities and institutional racism. Heart and lung disease are leading factors affecting morbidity and mortality in these groups. Notably, lung cancer is the number one killer of African Americans and number two killer of Latinos1,2. African Americans are also less likely to receive surgery for lung cancer than other groups3. As such, cardiothoracic surgeons are uniquely positioned to positively affect these health outcomes, mitigate racial health disparities, and contribute to the efforts towards health equity.