Challenging Racism & Healthcare
Focus Areas
The modern healthcare system has contributed to racial inequities through unequal access, biased treatment, and structural barriers that disproportionately harm communities of color. Historical injustices—such as medical experimentation on Black populations and the legacy of segregation in hospitals—have led to deep mistrust, while present-day disparities in insurance coverage, quality of care, and provider bias continue to impact outcomes. Black, Indigenous, and other people of color often experience higher rates of chronic illness, maternal and infant mortality, and lower life expectancy, not due to genetics, but due to social determinants of health shaped by systemic racism. Addressing these inequities requires dismantling structural barriers, confronting implicit bias, and ensuring culturally competent, accessible care for all.
