Now more than ever, there is a need for medical professionals, advancements in healthcare and strategies to help improve people’s quality of life. In addition to the increased need for medical providers, there is also an emphasis on providing culturally sensitive care for LGBTQ and minority patients. There is extensive data which shows that minority groups are disproportionately impacted by COVID, and the many issues that often come along with a COVID diagnosis, including job loss, reduced or lost income, and long-term health symptoms. However, even during such a difficult time, many minority people with COVID are often faced with the additional issue of negative implicit bias from healthcare professionals. Defined by the American Journal of Public Health as “…thoughts and feelings that often exist outside of conscious awareness, and thus are difficult to consciously acknowledge and control[,]” implicit attitudes have the potential to influence healthcare treatment and outcomes (American Journal of Public Health, 2015)
. 
Negative implicit attitudes about minority groups play a role in discriminatory behavior, which can negatively impact the experiences of patients who are already coping with a major illness. To address negative implicit attitudes among medical providers, it is essential to implement ongoing, evidence-based training, aimed at enhancing awareness of behaviors and encouraging an inclusive culture. It’s important that training programs focus on defining inappropriate behaviors, and communicating skills and doable strategies for reducing bias, discrimination and unfair treatment.