Zoe Siegel, MPH’s Post

This story shows the subtle health inequities experienced daily. And it's the sad reality in both high income and low and middle income countries. No one should lack access to quality health care because of their immigrant status, tribe, race, skin colour, marital status or socioeconomic circumstances. And no health professional should be looked down on because of these variables. #UHC #worldhealthorganization #SDG3

"Equity doesn’t mean the same thing in health care as it does in, say, finance. It’s about medical workers informing, empowering and respecting all patients, and taking their health concerns seriously." #healthcare #equity #healthcarerecruiters #physicians #advancedpractitioners #primarycare #AiMedicine #DEI #latinx #latinxmedicine #latinxhealthcare #culture

This is a story of how a delayed diagnosis can completely change a patient's life. Diana Cejas was 25 years old and in her second year of medical school when she found a lump on her neck. She went to her student health center, was labeled anxious — and told the unhelpful refrain that many medical students think they're dying. Second and third opinions gaslit her concerns equally, causing years to pass without a diagnosis. Meanwhile, the mass grew larger and harder. Cejas started to have episodes of dizziness and lightheadedness. It was only after demanding testing that she was diagnosed with cancer, specifically metastatic paraganglioma. Cejas underwent two surgeries. Hours after the second surgery, her left arm and leg became paralyzed, and she struggled to swallow her saliva. At age 30, Cejas had had a stroke. Cejas's case exposes a complicated and sometimes life-threatening side of medicine where patients are silenced or unheard. But she was different: She was a member of the medical community — theoretically, she had an advantage in navigating the system and advocating for appropriate care. She knew the language of the field. And yet, her complaints were dismissed and her diagnosis was delayed. Now, as part of the 3% of American physicians living with a disability, Cejas dedicates her career to providing support to other students and doctors with disabilities. Teen Vogue sits down with Cejas to discuss her diagnosis, recovery, and advocacy work. Read the article to hear more about Dr. Cejas' remarkable journey. https://lnkd.in/gYqzY42J #teenvogue #inspiration #blackinmedicine ##medicalstudents #medicallife #physician #writers #advocacy #doctors #premed #WordCount #WritersLife #writersofinstagram 

How oral health and BH are connected. A great insight into a collaborative effort by #CHC. Integrative care is so important for overall health and also to have better oral health outcomes.

Did you know that older brains are more resilient, better able to deal with change and negative emotions? I learned that from today’s book recommendation, "This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism" by Ashton Applewhite. With data from studies and interviews, Applewhite debunks ageist stereotypes and outlines how we can create an "all-age-friendly world" by: ➡️Creating more opportunities for older people to contribute to society; ➡️Improving research into the biology of aging and the social implications of our increasing lifespans; and ➡️Expanding the training of geriatric medical practitioners. Overall a well-written, engaging and eye-opening read! #ageism #stereotypes

What a powerful example of structural racism and epistemic injustice (power dynamics impacting who does and doesn’t get heard) in action within health and care services. If it wasn’t for that young girls mother acting as her advocate, she may have had a very different outcome. The adultification of Black children must be paid closer attention to and tackled. This may be an example from America but we are not safe from race-based assumptions in the U.K either. Stereotypes that Black women have different shaped pelvises, or don’t feel pain still persist in the NHS leading to harm, unequal outcomes and in some cases death. Not to mention medical staff being more likely to dismiss concerns over symptoms, for example relating to jaundice or eczema, on Black people as staff do not recognise them on darker skin. In the words of Birthrights U.K., we are dealing with systemic racism, not broken bodies.

~50% of American doctors believe that Black patients feel less pain. If you are a white soldier you will receive better pain protocols and medication than a Black soldier. Have any of your children ever had appendicitis? If you are white, they probably medicated them properly. If you are Black, they let your child suffer and feel more pain because they do not believe they need as much medicine. Why? Because these doctors, with medical degrees based in science, have a belief that Black people's nerve endings do not reach the surface of their skin making them able to withstand more pain. We can talk about health equity being driven by poverty for another decade but it's a fallacy. ALL low income patients struggle, so why are we the "poor" patients? Studies show that the wealthier Black patients are, the MORE they question the doctor and approaches to treatment. The reason for health inequity is baked into the foundation of the country. It is out and out racism...which does cause the poverty issues, but is a symptom, not the cause of the problem. We talk about treating disease and making people's health better, but until this country collectively addresses the racism, we will remain where we are. And, pharma cannot solve this. With underrepresentation from LatinX and Black communities, it is impossible for the industry to appropriately address the issue. If you work in pharma, check the racial demographics of your company and your neighborhood (especially if you live around any of the pharma corridors). The companies and communities are devoid of LatinX and Black people. It is comical that an industry comprised of people who have made a concerted effort (it is concerted in the NY area, which has 2-3 times the representation from these communities as our representation in the US population), think they can solve this issue. If feels like you want to exclude us. The language is too soft and the approach to slow because we are still centering whiteness and white feelings in the ways we choose to address it. Y'all need to get uncomfortable to solve it...the rest of us are always uncomfortable and sometimes you need a lived experience to drive change. Til I am blue in the face - 2042, US will be majority LatinX and Black. It takes 20 years for a tree to bare fruit. We have 17 and 1/2. Y'all ain't ready...turn the reins over to the community and hire us! We ready! We ready! We ready for y'all! (Pastor Troy - Google him). https://lnkd.in/dH9EchUm

As adults, we often have sticker shock and feel concern when talking about medical treatments. When talking with our youth, here are some specifics we can keep in mind when discussing cancer and other medical concerns. #childdevelopment #cancersupport #treatmentplanning #therapytools

As we reflect upon #BlackHistoryMonth, our work involving health equity recognizes that there is significant #racialbias in the assessment of pain and treatment recommendations for Black people as compared to non-Black people. The implications of assuming Black people have a higher pain tolerance is a false and harmful perception, and unfortunately is a common misconception in the healthcare/medicine field today. To learn more, click here: https://lnkd.in/et_v4gv5