Through my experiences with diverse groups, I have learned how to emotionally connect with people who are different from me and, more importantly, increase the impact of my connection to people from my own identity group(s). I often see Black, young women who need help navigating the healthcare system and I am always honored to help my sisters in a setting where their needs often go unmet.
Read MoreAnxiety is a hot button word that often comes with negative connotations as though we should never experience this emotion. I have learned that we are often excited to discuss and align with conversations around calmness and centering oneself. Whereas with anxiety, we are uncomfortable with the “stigma” it carries and shy away from conversations to address it. Anxiety is a normal emotion as are other emotions, however, it is when it becomes debilitating that we must recognize it as an imbalance.
Read MoreSo, my call to action for you my melanated family in spirit is to know your vitamin D status. To know that the darker the skin tone, the higher the risk of low vitamin D levels in the body. And during this pandemic where we continue to see the virus not only ravage the world and the United States but also disproportionately impact the black and brown community, I hope that at your next visit, you feel knowledgeable and empowered to start a conversation with your personal clinician about vitamin D testing and supplementation and if it is right for you.
Read MoreMost patients would agree that great bedside manner is a must-have on the list of qualifications for any doctor they would consider for their care. Professionalism, a willingness to answer questions in layperson’s terms, and a friendly demeanor can help a patient feel more at ease in the quite vulnerable position of trusting someone else with their health. However, a patient actually has to make it to the proverbial “bed” before a doctor’s bedside manner becomes relevant, and this usually requires getting past the gatekeepers of the doctor’s office: receptionists and front desk staff members.
Read MoreTruthfully, I didn’t know much about health disparities for Black women until I saw it firsthand. I may not have had statistics or known the intricate history of health disparities for Black women, but I knew what I saw very well. When I rushed her to the hospital, I saw a lack of care that was disgusting and explained repeatedly that a perfectly healthy woman can’t feel anything from her waist down.
Read MoreI thought that I went into yoga for my back, but it turned out it was the Creator’s way of preparing me for the next fight. It was the techniques I learned in my yoga class that got me through my cancer treatment.
Read MoreDr. Nunez-Smith is Black excellence personified. She champions diversity through her demonstrated commitment to promoting healthcare equity for marginalized groups and advancing diversity within the healthcare workforce. Read on to learn more about Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, co-chair of the President-elect’s COVID-19 Transition Advisory Board.
Read MoreI am a black woman. I am not your token to use to connect with patients that look like me. My presence signifies representation of a demographic that has held a long mistrust for the medical community. My presence gives them comfort, reassurance, and improves their access to care, not your access to them.
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