Transcript: I think that when we discuss clinical trials, it’s important because that’s how we advance medicine. Unfortunately, what is combated with underrepresented minorities is that there’s a level of distrust because we have proven that in American history, that when we had that opportunity to really help someone, especially our population, there was abuse and misuse of that. So unfortunately, we look at this like this was hundreds of years ago when we think about the Tuskegee experiment, but there are living people now, and if not, from their offspring, that have to deal with this. Tertiary syphilis is a huge thing that still has sequelae for patients. So in our minds, as a young practicing doctor, it seems like it could be distant. But some patients are not only thinking about it, but they’re living through it. So with all that being said, I think we just need to understand that having more people that look like us, that can speak directly to our population that may have mistrust, because there may be a level of easiness that comes along when you say, Hey, I’m Dr. Kwakye, I’m performing this clinical trial. I am the Principal Investigator. Would that take away everything? Absolutely not. But that’s a step to lead into saying that, well, I know that hopefully, this person has my best interests at heart, because this person has a mother and has a father that looks just like me, and if I want to continue to do this clinical trial, hopefully I know that with him at the helm, that hopefully, it will be one that won’t be led with mistrust, but with loving and guidance.
Dr. Adonteng Kwakye: Building Trust Between Doctors and Patients
