Jeri Hill, PhD, is a patient advocate for her local community in California. After she retired from her professional career in immunology, members of her community approached her to help support patients and families who are reluctant to seek medical care due to distrust in the system. Dr. Hill acts as an advocate, liaison, and cultural translator to bridge the communication and trust gap that can sometimes exist between African American patients and clinicians.
In this episode, Dr. Hill delves into the history of systemic racism in society and medicine, and how that leads to distrust today. Dr. Hill shares both historical examples as well as more recent instances where racism and inequity have led to health disparities, including those witnessed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Hill advocates for inclusion and partnership, as well as recognition of the current and historical factors that lead to distrust as a path toward inclusion and equity.
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