Working environment for historically marginalized faculty, administrators, and librarians in pharmacy education.

INTRODUCTION: Promoting diversity among faculty, administrators, and librarians in schools and colleges of pharmacy (SCOP) would be beneficial for the recruitment and retention of students from diverse backgrounds. Graduating such diverse pharmacists could assist in reducing healthcare disparities. Promoting diversity requires a climate that is inclusive of people from all backgrounds. The goal of this study was to examine the working environment of historically marginalized faculty, administrators, and librarians within pharmacy education. METHODS: An electronic survey was administered to all faculty, administrators, and librarians listed in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy roster. RESULTS: Responses from 339 participants were analyzed. Twenty-seven percent of these participants either observed or personally experienced misconduct during the previous five years. When action was taken, it resulted in the cessation of the misconduct only 38% of the time. Respondents most frequently identified the following as ways to make it easier to address misconduct: support from supervisors, support from peers, and education on how to address misconduct. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile communication/behaviors towards historically marginalized faculty, administrators, and librarians do exist in SCOP. The academy should work towards promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in SCOP through education and provide administrative and peer support for reporting and managing professional misconduct.

Trends and associated characteristics for Chagas disease among women of reproductive age in the United States, 2002 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: American trypanosomiasis, commonly referred to as Chagas disease, is caused by a single cell protozoan known as Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Although those affected are mainly in Latin America, Chagas has been detected in the United States (US), Canada and in many European countries due to migration. Few studies have explored the epidemiology of Chagas within the US or changes in disease burden over the past decade. The objective of this study was to explore the trends and associated characteristics for Chagas disease among hospitalized women of reproductive age in the US. METHODS: We analyzed admissions data including socio-demographic and hospital characteristics for inpatient hospitalization for women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the US from 2002 through 2017. We employed Joinpoint regression analysis to determine trends in the prevalence of Chagas disease over this period. RESULTS: A total of 487 hospitalizations of Chagas disease were identified, corresponding to 3.7 per million hospitalizations over the study period. The rate statistically increased from 1.6 per million in 2002 to 7.6 per million hospitalizations in 2017. Chagas was most prevalent among older women, Hispanics and those in the highest zip income bracket. The in-hospital mortality rate was about 10 times greater among women with Chagas compared to those without the condition (3.1% versus 0.3%), and the condition tended to be clustered in women treated at large, urban teaching hospitals in the Northeastern region of the US. CONCLUSION: Chagas disease diagnosis appears to be increasing among hospitalized women of reproductive age in the US with a 10-fold elevated risk of mortality.