Episode Summary
Racism has been firmly embedded in medicine for centuries — so uprooting it is no small task. In this episode, author and journalist Linda Villarosa and Dr. Amaal Starling join Dr. Millstine for a conversation on the ways racism prevents Black and brown people from getting the care they need — and what can be done about it.
Episode Notes
We talked with:
- Linda Villarosa is a journalist, an educator and a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine. She covers the intersection of health and medicine and social justice. Her book "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation" was published in June 2022.
- Amaal Starling, M.D. is an associate professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She is an expert in concussion and headache — particularly in women.
We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests talk about:
- The problems start at birth. Linda talks about her reporting on disparities in pregnant women and their babies — but the problems of racism in medicine don't stop there. The guests explain how chronic stress from racism and bias accelerates aging and contributes to disparities.
- The problems are often ignored. All too often Black people seek care and are ignored, disrespected, misdiagnosed or blamed for their medical problems.
- The problems have solutions. There's hope! Our guests talk about personal and political solutions. They've seen medical trainees and residents challenge practices and push change to correct systemic problems.
Can't get enough?
- Purchase Linda Villarosa's book "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation"
- Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
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