Why Regulatory Agencies Should Address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is important to put balance back into our social architecture and begin to see our human resources with understanding, dignity, respect, and empathy and use in ways that create the greatest potential of, and for, all people. In the practice of healthcare and the practice of professional licensing, if we don’t understand and address the principles of DEI, we will never be able to understand the problems and barriers many of our patients face, and thus, the system breaks down for many who truly need it.

To address DEI principles, first, we must be willing to acknowledge that there is much we don’t understand, and then be willing to bridge those gaps. Second, we must know our public. What is the demographic of the public you serve and are sworn to protect? Do your Board members reflect that demographic? Third, develop a concrete plan to address DEI with sincere and genuine concern. Do your licensees create barriers or establish inequities in care? Do you have a plan to educate your licensees about DEI? Has your Board established a system to look for and monitor bias in patient care? Has your Board established consequences for licensees who are willfully biased toward patients?

Regulatory Boards are tasked with protecting the public by ensuring that a licensed optometrist is competent to practice. DEI issues for Boards do not center around new licensee candidates, but rather around the established licensee and the public that they serve. This can present a bit of a conundrum for DEI issues in the regulatory world. On one hand, Regulatory Boards have the responsibility to license candidates based on objective parameters: graduating from an accredited optometric program, passing the National Board Exams, etc. In this regard, race, color, creed, gender, religion, sexual orientation/identity, and other variables are not factored in. Licensure is solely based on competency to practice optometry. This is certainly in the public interest and fulfills the mission of Regulatory Boards to protect the public while attempting to be completely unbiased regarding licensee candidates.

On the other hand, the Board must also interact with both established licensees and the patients they serve. Regulatory Boards protect the public by knowing who their public is and understanding their demographics. Having Board members that reflect the demographic of the people they serve is a good first step in achieving this goal. Boards also protect the public by educating their licensees on the importance of understanding their patients’ backgrounds, cultures, and identities. To properly diagnose, treat, and manage, optometrists must be able to connect with their patients. That connection starts with knowing the patient, their culture, history, and identity, and then understanding and accepting those characteristics. Boards can help by providing access to DEI education to fill in the gaps for optometrists who do not have the same background or understanding as those they treat. This helps the optometrist establish a more complete case history which is essential, for a proper and more comprehensive patient encounter.

Some takeaways for your Board regarding DEI:

  • Always maintain objectivity when granting a license to a new optometrist.
  • Educate the board about issues relating to DEI.
  • Look at the makeup of your board. Does the board reflect the demographic of the people you serve? If not, consider adding this to the criteria for future appointments to the board.
  • Consider requiring ongoing education on issues relating to DEI.
  • Establish consequences for unprofessional conduct for doctors proven to be willfully biased toward certain patient demographics.