Ameera Haamid,MD, assistant professor of medicine (Section of Emergency Medicine), recently reported in an article in the American College of Emergency Physicians that homicide disproportionately impacts young black men throughout the United States. Most of the focus on decreasing gun violence in this community surrounds stricter gun laws and harsher penalties for those who perpetuate violence. There are fewer interventions that focus on root causes to prevent these events. As physicians, there are several ways that we can address the root cause of gun violence and decrease gun-related injuries in our marginalized communities. These approaches include using a trauma-informed approach to patient care, advocating for the presence of violence-recovery support staff, partnering with local violence intervention programs, and promoting community programming directed at addressing social determinants of health. With intentionality and focused efforts, physicians can help move the needle on making safer and healthier environments for the patients we serve.

https://www.acepnow.com/article/gun-violence-treating-the-root-cause/