Representation of skin tone: The use of medical imagery in the genetic counseling profession

The utilization of medical imagery featuring human bodies is a common practice in educational settings and patient interactions. However, these images predominantly depict white bodies and lighter skin tones, raising questions about their inclusivity and representation. This cross-sectional quantitative study addressed this gap by assessing the diversity of medical imagery in the genetic counseling field. Participants (n = 103) completed a 43-item survey where they responded to prompts about their experiences with medical imagery, depicting Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) bodies and white bodies within their genetic counseling (GC) role, their genetic counseling program instructor role, and during their time as genetic counseling students. In their GC role, participants were significantly more likely to see (p < 0.001) and use (p = 0.02) white imagery compared to BIPOC imagery. In both their GC and instructor roles, participants found it more difficult to find BIPOC imagery (p < 0.001) and had to put more effort into finding it (p_GC < 0.001; p_instructor = 0.001). As students, participants were more likely to have seen white imagery in their curriculum (p < 0.001). When looking for diverse imagery, participants often resorted to Google searches (n = 44) and used search terms that encompass both the medical condition and the desired race (n = 16). The most common barrier participants encountered when looking for diverse imagery was the general lack of diversity in stock photo resources (n = 61). This study sheds light on the lack of diversity in medical imagery within the genetic counseling field and emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive representation. By enhancing providers' knowledge of how conditions manifest across diverse racial and ethnic groups, diverse medical imagery can contribute to mitigating health inequalities among patients of color. Bringing attention to the resources used to educate others on human health is critical for the future development of inclusive resources, such as medical imagery.