Numerous studies report a longer time to breast cancer treatment among racial/ethnic minorities.1 These disparities traverse regions, insurance, hospital type, and treatment method, underscoring pervasive and systemic underlying causes. Although robust literature is available to show treatment delays during two decades, research efforts continue to focus on identifying racial disparities, providing little to no progress toward identifying solutions.

In our editorial, “Addressing the Root Cause,” we emphasize the importance of shifting the focus from solely identifying disparities to purposefully addressing inequities with solution-oriented interventions.2 This includes interventions targeting differential access to quality care, lack of racial diversity among providers, bias, and social determinants of health driving treatment delays.

In the future, research should advance us toward policies that change the face of medicine and our approach to treatment. As the representation of minority providers reduces bias and disparate outcomes, the focus should be on minority recruitment and retention, hiring practices, transparency in promotion metrics, and valuing of diverse voices in hospital leadership.3 Because access to quality care influences treatment delays, research should focus on approaches to reducing financial toxicity and improving insurance reimbursement,4 resource allocation to minority service hospitals, telehealth access,5 and work-leave/childcare practices.

After decades of reporting disparities, it is our obligation as physicians to be active in reducing inequalities. We must be purposeful about addressing the root cause of treatment delays. This will require a shift in research culture, not only in recognizing and reporting of the problem, but also in taking meaningful steps toward a more equitable health care system.