Color of Genes

Our Mission: At Color of Genes®, we understand the differences in health outcomes facing disparate patient communities that may be driven by medical and scientific racism and other barriers as evidenced in well-documented scientific literature. We want to address this by closing racial and ethnic gaps in our nation's healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized patient communities, such as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) patients. Our mission is to enable patients with access to evidence-based genomic and genetic health resources and genetic health services administered by genomic and genetic health practitioners (services such as genetic carrier screening, genetic diagnostic testing, and genetic counseling) by providing BIPOC patients with access to qualified and licensed BIPOC genetic health providers and genetic counselors of their choice when they need it, where they need it, and in a timely manner, across the United States.

Our Commitment: Our commitment towards facilitating access to evidence-based genomic and genetic health resources and services is intended to increase knowledge about risk factors that contribute to genomic and genetic health conditions (such as genes, genetic variation, and genetic ancestry) to support patients and their families with making more informed health-related decisions that lead to improved health outcomes. Our mission is centered on BIPOC patient communities who disproportionately face barriers to accessing genetic health services and our nationwide network of genomic and genetic health practitioners listed in our Genetic Health Directory resemble the rich diversity of the United States, inclusive of BIPOC and non-BIPOC genomic and genetic health providers and genetic counselors committed to patient diversity, inclusivity, and satisfaction.

Our Expertise: Ensure patient communities have a pathway to access evidence-based genomic and genetic health resources and services that are culturally-tailored to meet their needs and to guide their genetic health decision-making while enabling their access to important health information.

Our Goals: Promote optimal health, increase patient engagement with genetic health providers and genetic counselors, reduce and prevent health burdens (such as risk factors, diseases, and disorders), improve human health and well-being, and increase awareness about hereditary disease risks.

Important Facts

According to a research study published by the NIH National Library of Medicine, “minority-serving physicians were significantly less likely to have ever ordered a genetic test for breast cancer, colorectal cancer or Huntington’s Disease, or to have ever referred a patient for genetic testing relative to those serving fewer minorities”.

According to a survey conducted by Penn Medicine, patients generally give maximum patient satisfaction ratings when seen by a physician who shares their same racial or ethnic makeup.

According to an article published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, “patients tend to prefer healthcare providers of similar race and ethnicity” and “minority providers, particularly those from groups that are underrepresented in medicine in the United States, such as African Americans and Latinos, at times find themselves receiving lower patient experience scores than their white colleagues”.

According to Michigan Medicine, “Black patients, for instance, may feel more wary with a white doctor than a Black doctor, and white doctors may feel less comfortable caring for minoritized patients. Mounting evidence suggests when physicians and patients share the same race or ethnicity, this improves time spent together, medication adherence, shared decision-making, wait times for treatment, cholesterol screening, patient understanding of cancer risk, and patient perceptions of treatment decisions. Not surprisingly, implicit bias from the physician is decreased”.

Often, “the overall health of most BIPOC Americans is often worse than their white counterparts, though this isn’t always because of poor medical care. While a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can severely impact a person’s survival or recovery rate, sometimes patients don’t even have access to basic health care” according to a report by the YMCA.

Strikingly, “the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the wealthy world. Maternal health in BIPOC groups is even worse, with Black people bearing a disproportionate share of maternal deaths. This is due to a number of factors, including racism in healthcare, barriers to quality healthcare, health disparities, and a lack of inclusion of BIPOC groups in medical research” according to Medical News Today.

Challenges to accessing important genetic health information affects the health and well-being of individuals and their families, leading to higher medical costs to our healthcare system, financial burdens to patients and their families, and missed opportunities for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

At Color of Genes®, we want to eliminate the factors that lead to preventable genomic and genetic health burdens, especially for patients who are in most need, by enabling access to genetic health services, resources, and evidence-based scientific articles.

Lack of access to lifesaving genomic and genetic healthcare services threaten patient care, increase medical costs, and accelerate barriers to accessing health-promoting resources. All which have the potential to lead to preventable health risks and health morbidities, co-morbidities, and even death.

We aim to support patient communities, especially those who may be in most need (such as BIPOC patients) by equipping patients with access to evidence-based genomic and genetic health resources when they need it, where they need it, and in a timely manner. Reach out to us to get started on your path to precision health.