{"id":3786,"date":"2026-09-24T11:35:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3786"},"modified":"2026-09-24T11:35:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:35:56","slug":"underrepresented-physicians-negotiation-is-asking-for-fairness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3786","title":{"rendered":"Underrepresented physicians: Negotiation is \u2018asking for fairness\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"ArticleContent\">\n<div class=\"article__below-title\">\n<div class=\" article__posted-date\">\n<p>September 24, 2026<\/p>\n<p>3 min watch<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mobile-trust-box\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 d-xl-none\">\n<div class=\"trust-box\">\n<div class=\"trust-box-logo d-none d-md-block\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-1 offset-xl-0 col-xl-12\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u64a6b3b30d0d4a93ab56a95a656316dd\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260923\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Know your market value, data, BATNA and non-negotiables before entering any negotiation.<\/li>\n<li>Negotiating for fair pay, support and leadership opportunities can open doors for physicians who follow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For physicians from underrepresented groups, negotiating with an employer means more than securing a higher salary; it can shape access to leadership opportunities, promotion, visibility and, above all, a voice within the institution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that physicians from underrepresented minorities are offered less leadership opportunities and not promoted as often, but they are also paid less,\u201d <b>Christina N. Awad, MD<\/b><b>, <\/b>medical director of hepatology and faculty director for AI and innovation at UT Health San Antonio, told Healio. \u201cWhen you negotiate, you\u2019re not asking for a favor. You\u2019re just asking for fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>How can physicians approach the negotiation table with greater confidence? Start with the data, Awad said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to show up to the negotiation table having done your homework, knowing your data and what you\u2019re asking for, and able to back that up,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to know your market value and your best alternative option or BATNA [Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement], in case what you\u2019re asking for is not met.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Awad added: \u201cYou must also know what your non-negotiables are: What are the things that are a must for me, and if I don\u2019t get it, I will walk away. And [be willing to] do that: Walk away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Negotiation can also have an impact beyond the individual physician. When physicians from underrepresented groups advocate for equitable compensation, resources, advancement and leadership opportunities, they can help create greater access and visibility for those who follow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we negotiate for ourselves, we also open the doors for those that will come after us, who will follow in the path we have made with our negotiation for better salary, better administrative staff, academic promotion and leadership titles,\u201d Awad said.<\/p>\n<p>Effective negotiation is not simply about asking for more, but about demonstrating how the right resources can amplify a physician\u2019s impact, she noted. Preparation, data and a clear understanding of your own value can turn negotiations into an opportunity for meaningful change.<\/p>\n<p>The key is to frame requests around impact: What support will allow you to do more for your patients, your team and your institution?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you negotiate, make sure that you are saying: With what I\u2019m negotiating for, I want the best for our institution,\u201d Awad said. \u201cIf you provide me with the admin staff that I need, that will even further my impact and better our institution.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content--footer\">\n<div class=\"publisher-logo\">\n    <span>Published by:<\/span><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"sources-references-disclosures\">\n<h3>Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n<h2> Source: <\/h2>\n<p class=\"citation\">Healio Interviews<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclosures\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n        <strong> Disclosures: <\/strong>&#13;<br \/>\n        Awad reports no relevant financial disclosures.&#13;\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Healio AI Widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"healio-ai-component-inline\" data-no-ads=\"true\" data-module-track-category=\"Healio AI\" data-module-track-action=\"Click\" data-module-track-label=\"Access Healio Ai from component - News_AI Component - In-Content (all devices)\">\n<div class=\"healio-ai-content\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\" alt=\"Healio AI\" class=\"healio-ai-logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into <strong>Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n    <\/ul>\n<p>    <button class=\"healio-ai-button\" onclick=\"window.location.href=\" https:=\"\">Learn more<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u64a6b3b30d0d4a93ab56a95a656316dd\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260923\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260923\/for-physicians-from-marginalized-groups-negotiation-is-asking-for-fairness-not-a-favor\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>September 24, 2026 3 min watch &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Know your market value, data, BATNA and non-negotiables before entering any negotiation. Negotiating for fair pay, support and leadership opportunities can open doors for physicians who follow. For physicians from underrepresented groups, negotiating with an employer means more than securing a higher salary; it can shape access to leadership opportunities, promotion, visibility and, above all, a voice within the institution. \u201cWe know that physicians from underrepresented minorities are offered less leadership opportunities and not promoted as often, but they are also paid less,\u201d Christina N. Awad, MD, medical director of hepatology and faculty director for AI and innovation at UT Health San Antonio, told Healio. \u201cWhen you negotiate, you\u2019re not asking for a favor. You\u2019re just asking for fairness.\u201d How can physicians approach the negotiation table with greater confidence? Start with the data, Awad said. \u201cYou have to show up to the negotiation table having done your homework, knowing your data and what you\u2019re asking for, and able to back that up,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to know your market value and your best alternative option or BATNA [Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement], in case what you\u2019re asking for is not met.\u201d Awad added: \u201cYou must also know what your non-negotiables are: What are the things that are a must for me, and if I don\u2019t get it, I will walk away. And [be willing to] do that: Walk away.\u201d Negotiation can also have an impact beyond the individual physician. When physicians from underrepresented groups advocate for equitable compensation, resources, advancement and leadership opportunities, they can help create greater access and visibility for those who follow. \u201cWhen we negotiate for ourselves, we also open the doors for those that will come after us, who will follow in the path we have made with our negotiation for better salary, better administrative staff, academic promotion and leadership titles,\u201d Awad said. Effective negotiation is not simply about asking for more, but about demonstrating how the right resources can amplify a physician\u2019s impact, she noted. Preparation, data and a clear understanding of your own value can turn negotiations into an opportunity for meaningful change. The key is to frame requests around impact: What support will allow you to do more for your patients, your team and your institution? \u201cWhen you negotiate, make sure that you are saying: With what I\u2019m negotiating for, I want the best for our institution,\u201d Awad said. \u201cIf you provide me with the admin staff that I need, that will even further my impact and better our institution.\u201d Published by: Sources\/Disclosures Source: Healio Interviews &#13; Disclosures: &#13; Awad reports no relevant financial disclosures.&#13; Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge base. &#13; PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines &#13; Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news &#13; Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data &#13; Learn more &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. 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