By: Lillian Witting, MPH, CAMP, Manager, Research and Programs 

Each patient’s journey through the health care system should begin the same way: with an accurate diagnosis, delivered without delay or barriers. Yet for many, that first step is out of reach. 

Diagnostic equity—the ability for all patients, regardless of demographics, condition, or circumstance, to receive a timely and accurate diagnosis—should be the standard. However, structural barriers across the health system, including access, coverage, data gaps, and research design, continue to shape who gets diagnosed, when, and how accurately. 

For many patients, access to care is the first barrier. Limited provider availability, restrictive office hours, and insurance constraints can make it difficult to see a primary care provider, often the first point of contact in the diagnostic process. When care is difficult to access or visits are delayed, opportunities for early detection are missed, allowing conditions to progress into more complex and costly health issues.  

The impacts of inequities in diagnosis are not evenly distributed. Patients with rare conditions often face months or years of testing before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Women, historically underrepresented in clinical research, are more likely to experience delayed or missed diagnoses.  

Patients are essential partners in shaping more equitable approaches to diagnosis. Addressing these disparities requires intentional collaboration with patient communities to understand lived experiences, identify barriers, and design solutions that improve access and accuracy. 

At the 2026 Science of Patient Engagement Summit, the National Health Council (NHC) will convene leaders across health systems, research, industry, and patient organizations to explore how patient engagement can drive more equitable diagnostic pathways. 

A featured fireside chat will ground this discussion in the lived realities of patients navigating the health system: 

Fireside Chat: Dr. Uché Blackstock 
In a patient-moderated conversation, Dr. Blackstock will examine how systemic inequities, including racism, shape health care experiences and outcomes for Black patients. Drawing on her experience as an emergency physician and health equity leader, she will discuss how these disparities influence access to care, how symptoms are interpreted, and how diagnoses and treatment decisions are made. 

Two additional sessions will examine diagnostic equity from complementary angles: 

Session 3: Women Trailblazers in Modernizing Clinical Research 
This session will explore how clinical trials are designed and implemented to better reflect women’s real-world experiences. Leaders from research, clinical practice, and industry will share how they are advancing more inclusive, efficient, and patient-centered approaches to clinical research. Speakers include leaders from Sanofi, Bayer, and the PAN Foundation. 

Session 4: Building a Smarter, Fairer Diagnostic Health Ecosystem 
This session will examine systemic barriers that contribute to uneven diagnostic outcomes. Panelists will discuss challenges such as fragmented data, communication breakdowns, and misaligned incentives, while highlighting approaches that use technology, improved data sharing, and patient-centered design to enhance diagnostic accuracy, timeliness, and trust. Panelists include experts from the Epilepsy Foundation, Patients for Patient Safety US, and the Undiagnosed Disease Network. 

Advancing diagnostic equity is critical to improving outcomes, reducing costs, and building a more responsive health system. It also presents an opportunity for health systems, innovators, and policymakers to better align with patient needs. 

Join us May 11–12, 2026, in Arlington, VA, to explore how patient engagement can help close the diagnostic equity gap and drive meaningful, measurable change. Learn more and register on the Summit website.