Healthcare is racist and not serving those who need it most. We can do better.

Harriet Tubman, nurse, spy, bad ass <3

The Tuskegee experiment was coming to light and being ended around the time of my birth.  I have deep gratitude to have worked for a nurse researcher (before I was a nurse) who helped open my eyes to disparities in care. 

Still, in the past year we hear news about racial bias in healthcare algorithms. This is unacceptable.

In my own practice, I see how the system is not fair for people every single day. People of color, people who are poor, people who have mental illness. People with disabilities (visible or not visible). Anyone different.

At the end of the day, I can only be transparent in my own behavior with patients and be accepting that patients may still harbor mistrust for me. I continue to educate my patients in the ways that work for them and I continue to advocate to keep the system from losing the folks that may be under served. The faces of the people who are under served, I can tell you they are beautiful, brilliant, resourceful and kind. We can do better.