Reducing Barriers, Minimizing Gaps: A Q&A with Sui Zee, MD, FASCP

Publication Date: May 17, 2021

Sui Zee, MD, FASCP, emigrated to the United States from Hong Kong when she was 11. She experienced firsthand how communication is important in medicine when she underwent surgery as a child. Today, her parents still struggle to convey their health issues, which has led to delays in treatment with potentially serious consequences. Here, Dr. Zee discusses her experiences and how recognizing and reducing often-invisible barriers can help minimize healthcare disparities.

How can healthcare providers in the US get a better understanding of cultural needs or differences for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in order to better provide earlier screening and prevention, and better health care overall? How can the laboratory play a role in this?
Efforts to reduce healthcare inequities and provide equal quality care for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other ethnic groups must start with the medical providers. Diversity among all levels of healthcare professionals not only strengthens the cultural competency of the providers with each other, but also provides better experience and understanding of those who have been underserved due to ethnic and racial disparities. Having diverse patient-facing providers as well as laboratory professionals are necessary to address the needs of the diverse population especially the different racial/ethnic groups. Integration of cross-culture training and education must be available in medical schools and other allied health curricula to gain better understanding of the cultural differences that may affect care delivery. For example, in my specialty of gastrointestinal pathology, it’s important to know that there is a relatively high incidence of gastric cancer in Asian populations and assess the need for early prevention.

Tell us about our own personal experiences with racism in health care. How has it affected your career/your education?
I was one of a handful of Asians in my medical school class. I was acutely aware of the lack of diverse educators in my medical school. I think I would have benefited greatly having mentors who were from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Having a diverse group of mentors and role models is essential when a structured curriculum in cross-cultural education is not available. As a disabled Asian female, I sometimes felt I faced multiple obstacles; however, I was fortunate to have mentors who understood what my needs were and taught me how to handle attitudinal and physical obstacles that I faced throughout my career. The importance of having role models and/or mentors cannot be overemphasized. I hope that in my role as a mentor to residents and other laboratory professionals I provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that will help them grow in their professions.

What impact has the recent increase in violence against Asian Americans had on health care? How can or should health care respond?
The recent violence against Asian Americans has shaken my confidence in believing that we are safe in our society. One cannot ignore the social media depiction of what is happening to Asian American care providers who are adversely affected by the open hostility toward them from patients and people in the community who utter hurtful comments and perform violent. We need to protect Asian Americans, especially those who provide patient care and send a message that these actions will not tolerated. The memorandum signed by President Biden to combat racism and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is a step in the right direction. Patients who suffered hate crimes must also be cared for. Asian Americans are less likely to seek mental health care in part due to cultural beliefs. Increase in awareness by medical professionals will help identify those who need help to get through the mental trauma from racism compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

To read more Q&As with Asian American and Pacific Islander members of the laboratory, click here.

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