February: Black History and Health Equity

BLACK HISTORY AND HEALTH EQUITY

February 2023

This month we are celebrating and educating! Our goal is to highlight some of the most important people in Black History in maternal health. We are also encouraging all minority women to speak up to their providers and listen to their bodies. You know your body best.

We are ready to welcome February as Black History Month! Every week we will be highlighting an iconic figure in history, and we thought it would be so important to highlight: Audrey Forbes Manley.

Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley (b. 1934) received a music scholarship to study at Spelman College in Atlanta. She took the opportunity to expand her education and interests, and moved into the sciences. She was appointed Assistant Surgeon General in 1988 and is the first African American woman to hold a position of that rank in the U.S. Public Health Service. In 1997, she returned to Spelman, after 40 years in medicine, to serve as president of the college.

Read more about her here: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/.../ris.../collection-detail.html...

Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. Social determinants of health prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health.

Mom's need to make sure to pick a TRUSTED provider that will listen to their needs and concerns.

If you would like to know more: https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html

This week we are highlighting another Historical Black Figure in health: Dr. Jane Cooke Wright!

Dr. Jane Cooke Wright (1919-2013) analyzed a wide range of anti-cancer agents, explored the relationship between patient and tissue culture response, and developed new techniques for administering cancer chemotherapy. By 1967, she was the highest ranking African American women in a U.S. medical institution.

Read more about Dr. Wright: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/.../ris.../collection-detail.html...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXGj1A90X94

This links you to one of our favorite stories on listening to your body! Serena knew something was off, and we are glad she found someone who listens!