University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Assistant Professor Edwin Aroke, Ph.D., CRNA, will give the Goldie D. Brangman Diversity and Inclusion Lecture at the 87th American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Annual Congress in August 2020.
Aroke’s lecture, titled “Individual Differences in Pain: Taking a Closer Look at the Role of Sex, Race, and Social Class in Pain,” will utilize the biopsychosocial model, which looks at the interconnection of biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors, to raise awareness of the potentially detrimental effects of racism, sexism and classism on pain assessment and management. Aroke will also discuss steps CRNAs can take to decrease pain disparities.
This lecture was established by AANA in 2018 as a way to celebrate former AANA president Goldie Brangman, the first woman of color in a leadership position of AANA and well-known champion of diversity and inclusion.
“This lecturenot only honors her legacy but also raises awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the nurse anesthesia profession,” Aroke said. “It moves the discussion about diversity and inclusion from the side room to the main stage. Supporting diversity and inclusion in our profession is crucial for several reasons — racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the nurse anesthesia profession, every CRNA brings their personal and professional background to the provision of anesthesia care, and having a CRNA workforce that reflects the population we serve may decrease health disparities and improve outcomes.”
