After noticing that the hospital where they worked did not have adequate supplies to care for Black patients’ hair, PhD in Nursing student Irene Friedman, MS, RN, got to work.
Friedman, in collaboration with colleague Michelle Sison, MSN, RN, worked with their hospital’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) council, to expand the hair care products available to patients. They provided instructions to hospital staff about how to use the products and created educational materials about the historical significance of hair discrimination.
"It is our hope that our project will inspire other hospitals to diversify their hair care offerings and ensure that staff are comfortable caring for patients with all hair textures," they wrote in a paper published in the American Journal of Nursing.
Learn more about Friedman, including their research interests, a highlight of their time at UCSF and more.
Please tell us about your research.
I am interested in health disparities in the hospital setting and what can be done to reduce or eliminate them.
What inspired you to pursue this area of research?
I worked as an emergency room nurse for 20 years and witnessed inequitable patient treatment.
What health policy changes or clinical improvements do you hope to see from your work?
I would like to see the implementation of evidence-based, anti-racism interventions that improve patient outcomes and experiences.
What has been a highlight of your time in the UCSF PhD program?
My PhD student cohort. Everyone is so supportive and helpful, and it's fun to learn about their research interests and skillsets.
Is there anything about your program of study that has surprised you?
Before starting the program, I didn't spend much time considering the philosophical implications of what is considered to be "true." This has really motivated me to go back and examine my own long-held beliefs and how I might justify them to someone who holds different beliefs.
Friedman is a student in the UCSF School of Nursing's PhD in Nursing program. Their advisor is Linda Franck, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor.