Ask any person what they fear most about illness and they will likely tell you they fear pain. No one wants to suffer. Although suffering is a reality for many who are ill, suffering and illness shouldn’t go together. Fortunately, there are those working to change this situation for the better.
How do we relieve pain for those who are ill? What can be done to make sure people live a good quality of life for however long they live? Those were some of the questions we explored last night on Health Watch as we considered the topic, “Why Suffering and Illness Shouldn’t Mix: Pain Relief for the Seriously Ill.” Joining us by phone was Dr. Diane Meier, director of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine palliative care institute and center in New York City. She holds the distinction of being a 2008 MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” recipient and recently edited a book, Palliative Care: Transforming the Care of Serious Illness, which comprehensively considers pain and pain management. Dr. Meier was an ideal guest to talk about pain relief.
Dr. Meier shared that how we deal with pain, whether as a patient or a provider, is related to culture. We discussed how cultural notions like “gritting our teeth and bearing it,” and “no pain, no gain” often create situations in which pain is not treated like a medical emergency (which it is), but instead as a statement of character. As a palliative care specialist and geriatric physician, Dr. Meier works to change the way healthcare deals with pain and suffering. She is succeeding one patient and family at a time.
During the program Dr. Meier explained what palliative care is. Palliative care is care provided to relieve pain, stress and other symptoms of serious illness. Palliative care is not the same as hospice, which provides care at the end of a person’s life. Although hospice is part of palliative care, palliative care is not just for those who are terminally ill or dying. Palliative care is for anyone experiencing pain or suffering related to illness. The goal of palliative care is to improve people’s quality of life for however long they live. Achieving this first requires walking in another’s shoes.
Dr. Meier talked about how good palliative care first starts with providers listening to patients about their pain. Good listening, which includes rating pain intensity and setting goals to reduce pain, leads to better identification and address of specific pain symptoms. But, palliative care is more than just good listening. It is also about providers’ foreknowledge of the side effects associated with pain-relief medications (things like constipation), as well as understanding that pain is more than physical. It is emotional and spiritual, as well. Treating chronic pain and suffering, therefore, requires a team approach, one that includes healthcare providers, social workers, chaplains, family members and others. Each has an important role to play in providing pain relief. Dr. Meier’s genuineness and concern for those in pain was apparent even over the phone. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss!
Before we closed the show, Dr. Meier talked about the unsung heroes/sheroes of the palliative care movement. These people are caregivers. Often overlooked, caregivers walk daily the pain management road with their loved ones. Busily caring for others, caregivers often neglect their own health, too often leading to their premature deaths and disability. Dr. Meier spoke candidly about how we need to help share the load with those who care for others. She also strongly encouraged caregivers to advocate for their loved one’s pain management, even to the point of sometimes irritating healthcare providers to do it. When it comes to effective pain management, assertiveness pays in better quality outcomes.
If you want to find out more about Dr. Meier and her palliative care approach, then check out these links:
http://www.npcrc.org/about/about_show.htm?doc_id=437101
http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/diane-e-meier
People who are hurting shouldn’t have to. Relieving pain associated with illness requires time, empathy and compassion. Although it may not be easy, giving someone quality time to spend living is definitely worth it. Health Watch will continue shining its light on paths that lead to better health and pain-free living. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. Then pass it on!”
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Roots and Wings to Soar
The best families give you two things. They give you roots that connect you to something bigger than yourself. Families also give you wings, which help you soar to your fullest potential. Knowing who you are and where you come from affects many things, including physical, emotional and spiritual health.
For many, particularly African Americans, knowing the depths of our families’ roots is a challenge. With the institution of American slavery, many families of African descent were separated and displaced throughout the Americas. Compounding the issue is the lack of written records documenting enslaved African Americans’ history. Often these records are spotty, at best, or missing, at worst. Yet, where there is a will there is a way.
Within each of us is a key, unlocking the door to who we are, while also showing us the past and future, including our health. Health Watch wanted to find out more about this. So we dedicated yesterday’s show to exploring the topic, “Roots and genes: The link between DNA testing, history and health.”
Joining us was Dr. Rick Kittles, a scientist who well understands the connection between history, genes and health. Dr. Rick Kittles is a biologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the scientific director of African Ancestry, Inc. Dr. Kittles was the right guest to talk about how history and health are written in our genes.
As Dr. Kittles explained so much of who we are is encoded in DNA, which stands for Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid. We inherit DNA equally from our biological mothers and fathers. By studying the distinct patterns in the maternal or paternal lines scientists can determine lots of useful information about who we are, what health conditions we are predisposed to, and the ethnic groups our families originated from. Taking those applications to scale, Dr. Kittles and colleagues have developed African Ancestry, Inc., a genetics testing service which uses DNA to identify where in Africa people of African descent originated. Since starting the company, more than 20,000 people have used the relatively lost cost, fast and easy testing service.
Beyond genetic inheritance, Dr. Kittles also laid to rest the myth that race is a biological. Although there is tremendous physical variation between people, which we then use to put people into boxes or typologies called “races,” in actuality human beings no matter what their skin color or other physical features are almost identical biologically. Race is a cultural and social idea, not a biological one. That issue sparked some lively conversation with our Health Watch listeners.
While DNA helps unlock history’s past, including facts like all human beings originating from early humans located in Africa, it also has applications for health. DNA is answering questions about the excessively high incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer among African American men. It is also the driving force behind personalized medicine and genome mapping. The science of DNA is creating new and exciting paths of discovery. Yet, with any new technology there is an up side and a down side. DNA-related research is no exception. Dr. Kittles shed some light on this also.
DNA material once collected can be used for multiple research purposes. As healthcare consumers, when you provide human tissue, salvia, blood or other specimens, you should ask how is it going to be used and whether it will be saved for later use. Whether you decide to contribute your biological material or not, you should know this up front. However, as Dr. Kittles shared, the responsibility of conducting ethical research rests squarely on the shoulders of scientists themselves. Those who seek to know must first careful consider the implications of what they do and how they do their work. Dr. Kittles is obviously an advocate for researcher accountability. If you missed yesterday’s Health Watch, you definitely missed an important discussion. It was radio worth hearing!
To find out more about DNA testing and its applications, check out African Ancestry, Inc.’s website. They have a wealth of information, as well as a schedule for their 2010 national tour. Here’s the link to get your search started: http://africanancestry.com/
Health Watch believes when you know who you are, the rest is derivative. Here’s to finding your roots and developing wings to soar. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. Then pass it on!”
For many, particularly African Americans, knowing the depths of our families’ roots is a challenge. With the institution of American slavery, many families of African descent were separated and displaced throughout the Americas. Compounding the issue is the lack of written records documenting enslaved African Americans’ history. Often these records are spotty, at best, or missing, at worst. Yet, where there is a will there is a way.
Within each of us is a key, unlocking the door to who we are, while also showing us the past and future, including our health. Health Watch wanted to find out more about this. So we dedicated yesterday’s show to exploring the topic, “Roots and genes: The link between DNA testing, history and health.”
Joining us was Dr. Rick Kittles, a scientist who well understands the connection between history, genes and health. Dr. Rick Kittles is a biologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the scientific director of African Ancestry, Inc. Dr. Kittles was the right guest to talk about how history and health are written in our genes.
As Dr. Kittles explained so much of who we are is encoded in DNA, which stands for Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid. We inherit DNA equally from our biological mothers and fathers. By studying the distinct patterns in the maternal or paternal lines scientists can determine lots of useful information about who we are, what health conditions we are predisposed to, and the ethnic groups our families originated from. Taking those applications to scale, Dr. Kittles and colleagues have developed African Ancestry, Inc., a genetics testing service which uses DNA to identify where in Africa people of African descent originated. Since starting the company, more than 20,000 people have used the relatively lost cost, fast and easy testing service.
Beyond genetic inheritance, Dr. Kittles also laid to rest the myth that race is a biological. Although there is tremendous physical variation between people, which we then use to put people into boxes or typologies called “races,” in actuality human beings no matter what their skin color or other physical features are almost identical biologically. Race is a cultural and social idea, not a biological one. That issue sparked some lively conversation with our Health Watch listeners.
While DNA helps unlock history’s past, including facts like all human beings originating from early humans located in Africa, it also has applications for health. DNA is answering questions about the excessively high incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer among African American men. It is also the driving force behind personalized medicine and genome mapping. The science of DNA is creating new and exciting paths of discovery. Yet, with any new technology there is an up side and a down side. DNA-related research is no exception. Dr. Kittles shed some light on this also.
DNA material once collected can be used for multiple research purposes. As healthcare consumers, when you provide human tissue, salvia, blood or other specimens, you should ask how is it going to be used and whether it will be saved for later use. Whether you decide to contribute your biological material or not, you should know this up front. However, as Dr. Kittles shared, the responsibility of conducting ethical research rests squarely on the shoulders of scientists themselves. Those who seek to know must first careful consider the implications of what they do and how they do their work. Dr. Kittles is obviously an advocate for researcher accountability. If you missed yesterday’s Health Watch, you definitely missed an important discussion. It was radio worth hearing!
To find out more about DNA testing and its applications, check out African Ancestry, Inc.’s website. They have a wealth of information, as well as a schedule for their 2010 national tour. Here’s the link to get your search started: http://africanancestry.com/
Health Watch believes when you know who you are, the rest is derivative. Here’s to finding your roots and developing wings to soar. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. Then pass it on!”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
You can learn some new tricks.
It seems like the older you get, the less you remember. You once could turn around on a dime and give 9 ½ cents back in change. Now you are lucky if you remember to get the change while you are actually paying for your purchase. Remembering is a valuable tool, no matter what walk of life you are from. If we could only remember as well as we used to or even better, now wouldn’t that be something. Well, Health Watch wanted to find out if it was possible. Can you can teach an old dog new tricks when it comes to memory?
Joining us by phone was two-time Guinness World Book Record holder for memory Dave Farrow. Dave not only perfected memory techniques to overcome his ADD and dyslexia, he is now on a mission to boost others’ memory to improve their lives and achieve their goals. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss.
During the program we discussed common memory challenges, including remembering peoples’ names. Picture this scenario. You are meeting several people for the first time and you want to remember their names. How do you do it? Dave advised that you first slow down and take the time to actually recognize each person, instead of meeting people in rapid-fire succession. Next, after meeting each person, ask yourself the question, “What is this person’s name?” When you do this, you will more easily recall the person’s name and store that information in your long-term memory.
Have you ever forgotten where you placed something? If so, do not fret. Just use this trick Dave shared with us. Imagine the item blowing up. (Please do not actually make the item blow up!) The visual will spark your memory, leading you directly to where you last placed the item.
Beyond specific memory tips, Dave shared with us several applications of his memory techniques. We covered topics like speed reading, focus and goal setting, improving memory as well as how to read for maximum comprehension. For this last one, Dave suggested reading intensely in short bursts (5-8 minutes) followed by 5 minute breaks. Reading and studying this way increases retention and lessens the need to cram. Dave definitely gave our Health Watch listeners food for thought and something to remember.
If you are looking for ways to improve your memory and achieve your life goals, then perhaps Dave Farrow has tools you can use. You can find out more about Dave and his techniques at this link: www.yourmemorysucks.com
Whoever said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” perhaps never met the right coach. Here’s to improving your memory to get the most out of life. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. Then pass it on!”
Joining us by phone was two-time Guinness World Book Record holder for memory Dave Farrow. Dave not only perfected memory techniques to overcome his ADD and dyslexia, he is now on a mission to boost others’ memory to improve their lives and achieve their goals. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss.
During the program we discussed common memory challenges, including remembering peoples’ names. Picture this scenario. You are meeting several people for the first time and you want to remember their names. How do you do it? Dave advised that you first slow down and take the time to actually recognize each person, instead of meeting people in rapid-fire succession. Next, after meeting each person, ask yourself the question, “What is this person’s name?” When you do this, you will more easily recall the person’s name and store that information in your long-term memory.
Have you ever forgotten where you placed something? If so, do not fret. Just use this trick Dave shared with us. Imagine the item blowing up. (Please do not actually make the item blow up!) The visual will spark your memory, leading you directly to where you last placed the item.
Beyond specific memory tips, Dave shared with us several applications of his memory techniques. We covered topics like speed reading, focus and goal setting, improving memory as well as how to read for maximum comprehension. For this last one, Dave suggested reading intensely in short bursts (5-8 minutes) followed by 5 minute breaks. Reading and studying this way increases retention and lessens the need to cram. Dave definitely gave our Health Watch listeners food for thought and something to remember.
If you are looking for ways to improve your memory and achieve your life goals, then perhaps Dave Farrow has tools you can use. You can find out more about Dave and his techniques at this link: www.yourmemorysucks.com
Whoever said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” perhaps never met the right coach. Here’s to improving your memory to get the most out of life. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. Then pass it on!”
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Quitting is closer than you think.
Kicking the tobacco habit is easier said than done. Just ask anyone who has either quit or is trying to quit. Quitting is a process, not a destination. Yet, kicking the tobacco habit is possible! That is the good news.
Quitting requires understanding smoking and what tools work best to quit. Just like planning for a battle, quitting takes strategy and support. Doing just that-- developing a strategy to help you or someone you love kick tobacco is our goal. Health Watch is so intent to succeed we dedicated an entire show to smoking cessation. It was a program you would not have wanted to miss.
Helping us understand tobacco addiction was Dr. Charles Bentz, an internist and medical director for the Legacy Health System Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program in Portland, Oregon. We could not have asked for a better guest to talk about kicking the tobacco habit. Dr. Bentz not only understands the issue as a physician and advocate, but as a former smoker himself.
We talked about how breaking the smoking habit is really about two competing challenges. The first is nicotine addiction. The other is smoking behavior. Each comes with its on set of issues to tackle. Nicotine, when inhaled, alters the brain’s chemistry. Therefore to break the addiction requires stepping the body down from its nicotine dependency.
Smoking also is not just something people do. Smoking comes with its own set of meanings, feelings and behaviors. Some people smoke when they are with others or during breaks. As a result, smoking cigarettes is linked with other activities and people. Breaking the habit requires knowing what triggers the desire to smoke and altering that. The more a person interrupts these triggers, the more successful quitting becomes.
During our conversation Dr. Bentz also helped us understand the mystery of why African Americans are less likely to smoke, yet they are more likely to die from lung cancer. Much of is has to do with the types of cigarettes African Americans consume and how they smoke cigarettes. Mentholated cigarettes, preferred more often by African Americans, contain menthol, which sooths the throat. Consequently, people who smoke mentholated cigarettes draw harder while smoking and even smoke up to the filter to get the most of each cigarette. Who knew that cool sensation was numbing us to an early grave!
Although smoking is not an easy habit to break, quitting is possible. That was the message Dr. Bentz wanted our Health Watch listeners to know. Quitting requires having the right support and tools. Tools like quit lines. Each state has a local 1-800 number that providers callers counseling support right over the phone. They also have information about other resources that can help people quit. In Tennessee, the number is 1-800- QUIT-NOW. Help is just a phone call away.
So whether it is your first time or umpteenth time quitting, keep trying. Each attempt brings you one step closer to kicking the habit for good. Remember you are not in the fight alone. Health Watch is in your corner and on your side. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. Then pass it on!”
Quitting requires understanding smoking and what tools work best to quit. Just like planning for a battle, quitting takes strategy and support. Doing just that-- developing a strategy to help you or someone you love kick tobacco is our goal. Health Watch is so intent to succeed we dedicated an entire show to smoking cessation. It was a program you would not have wanted to miss.
Helping us understand tobacco addiction was Dr. Charles Bentz, an internist and medical director for the Legacy Health System Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program in Portland, Oregon. We could not have asked for a better guest to talk about kicking the tobacco habit. Dr. Bentz not only understands the issue as a physician and advocate, but as a former smoker himself.
We talked about how breaking the smoking habit is really about two competing challenges. The first is nicotine addiction. The other is smoking behavior. Each comes with its on set of issues to tackle. Nicotine, when inhaled, alters the brain’s chemistry. Therefore to break the addiction requires stepping the body down from its nicotine dependency.
Smoking also is not just something people do. Smoking comes with its own set of meanings, feelings and behaviors. Some people smoke when they are with others or during breaks. As a result, smoking cigarettes is linked with other activities and people. Breaking the habit requires knowing what triggers the desire to smoke and altering that. The more a person interrupts these triggers, the more successful quitting becomes.
During our conversation Dr. Bentz also helped us understand the mystery of why African Americans are less likely to smoke, yet they are more likely to die from lung cancer. Much of is has to do with the types of cigarettes African Americans consume and how they smoke cigarettes. Mentholated cigarettes, preferred more often by African Americans, contain menthol, which sooths the throat. Consequently, people who smoke mentholated cigarettes draw harder while smoking and even smoke up to the filter to get the most of each cigarette. Who knew that cool sensation was numbing us to an early grave!
Although smoking is not an easy habit to break, quitting is possible. That was the message Dr. Bentz wanted our Health Watch listeners to know. Quitting requires having the right support and tools. Tools like quit lines. Each state has a local 1-800 number that providers callers counseling support right over the phone. They also have information about other resources that can help people quit. In Tennessee, the number is 1-800- QUIT-NOW. Help is just a phone call away.
So whether it is your first time or umpteenth time quitting, keep trying. Each attempt brings you one step closer to kicking the habit for good. Remember you are not in the fight alone. Health Watch is in your corner and on your side. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. Then pass it on!”
Thursday, April 22, 2010
“Peace in the midst of a storm”
If you were anywhere near a television or radio in January 2010 the day the earthquake in Haiti happened or the days thereafter, what you saw and heard touched you. With so many people hurt, scared and unaccounted for, if you could do nothing else you prayed. It is hard to witness a traumatic event like that and not be affected. There were surely times you rejoiced when someone had been pulled from the rubble. Then there were times you wept when you saw people being buried in mass graves. For days on end we were on an emotional rollercoaster.
Now imagine being in Haiti only days after the earthquake. With so many people in need, where do you start? Who do you help and how do you help? What can you say or do to provide some comfort and reassurance that although things are turned up-side-down, hope still lives? When you are the caregiver in the midst of disaster, how do you keep your sanity to help others stay sane?
Last Thursday evening Health Watch considered the topic, “Staying Sane in the Midst of Disaster: The Haitian Earthquake Experience.” Providing a first-hand account of what he witnessed and the work that remains to be done was Dr. Rahn Bailey, a psychiatrist with Meharry Medical College. Days after the earthquake, he and colleagues from the National Medical Association arrived like “angles in the midst of rubble” to provide comfort and care to those devastated by disaster. What he shared with our Health Watch listeners was incredible.
Dr. Bailey saw extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure to quickly support rescue and recovery. Nevertheless, he also found a resilient people, who although devastated by the earthquake, were not leveled to their emotional core. History and faith had seen these people through hard times before. These assets were providing emotional anchor once again. Battered, bruised and shaken, Dr. Bailey and his team members dealt with the immediate emotional needs of orphans directly impacted by the disaster.
As to be expected, Dr. Bailey talked about issues of post-traumatic stress, fear, anxiety and depression amongst many of the girls in the orphanage and their caretakers. He also talked about how caregivers, including some of the older girls, provided emotional sanctuary for others. This sanctuary included individual and group counseling, along with opportunities to share what each girl experienced in her words. It was apparent as he recalled the experience that Dr. Bailey was touched deeply by what he saw. It was a Health Watch program you would not have wanted to miss!
Dr. Bailey also talked about parallels many children in Haiti dealt with before, during and after the earthquake and the issues many of our children face at home. The wounds of abandonment, limited access to healthcare, disease, sexual assaults and violence do not go away when the ground starts to move. Instead, they can be compounded by a natural disaster. That is why Dr. Bailey and his associates are dedicated to returning to Haiti in late spring 2010. Rebuilding lives after a disaster takes time and commitment.
If you want to find out more about Dr. Bailey’s experience in Haiti and the lessons it offers for providing support to those affected by natural and human-made disasters, then check out this link:
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4675/1/In-Haiti-to-help-psychiatrist-asked-How-could-things-get-better/Page1.html
Health Watch will keep you posted on what is happening with the Haitian recovery effort. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those devastated by life’s storms. Until next time, remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Now imagine being in Haiti only days after the earthquake. With so many people in need, where do you start? Who do you help and how do you help? What can you say or do to provide some comfort and reassurance that although things are turned up-side-down, hope still lives? When you are the caregiver in the midst of disaster, how do you keep your sanity to help others stay sane?
Last Thursday evening Health Watch considered the topic, “Staying Sane in the Midst of Disaster: The Haitian Earthquake Experience.” Providing a first-hand account of what he witnessed and the work that remains to be done was Dr. Rahn Bailey, a psychiatrist with Meharry Medical College. Days after the earthquake, he and colleagues from the National Medical Association arrived like “angles in the midst of rubble” to provide comfort and care to those devastated by disaster. What he shared with our Health Watch listeners was incredible.
Dr. Bailey saw extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure to quickly support rescue and recovery. Nevertheless, he also found a resilient people, who although devastated by the earthquake, were not leveled to their emotional core. History and faith had seen these people through hard times before. These assets were providing emotional anchor once again. Battered, bruised and shaken, Dr. Bailey and his team members dealt with the immediate emotional needs of orphans directly impacted by the disaster.
As to be expected, Dr. Bailey talked about issues of post-traumatic stress, fear, anxiety and depression amongst many of the girls in the orphanage and their caretakers. He also talked about how caregivers, including some of the older girls, provided emotional sanctuary for others. This sanctuary included individual and group counseling, along with opportunities to share what each girl experienced in her words. It was apparent as he recalled the experience that Dr. Bailey was touched deeply by what he saw. It was a Health Watch program you would not have wanted to miss!
Dr. Bailey also talked about parallels many children in Haiti dealt with before, during and after the earthquake and the issues many of our children face at home. The wounds of abandonment, limited access to healthcare, disease, sexual assaults and violence do not go away when the ground starts to move. Instead, they can be compounded by a natural disaster. That is why Dr. Bailey and his associates are dedicated to returning to Haiti in late spring 2010. Rebuilding lives after a disaster takes time and commitment.
If you want to find out more about Dr. Bailey’s experience in Haiti and the lessons it offers for providing support to those affected by natural and human-made disasters, then check out this link:
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4675/1/In-Haiti-to-help-psychiatrist-asked-How-could-things-get-better/Page1.html
Health Watch will keep you posted on what is happening with the Haitian recovery effort. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those devastated by life’s storms. Until next time, remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Friday, April 2, 2010
“Loving our brothers to life”
A few years ago the R&B singer Angie Stone wrote a song “Black Brother” dedicated to African American men. (It went something like, “Black brother, I love you. I’ll never try to hurt you.” Remember that song.) The song spoke of the virtue of Black men and their importance to the greater good of all communities. The song was a hit with young and old alike. However, the song’s uplifting message and the reality for many African American men and their health don’t always match up.
Like when a popular song fades, it seems so has African American men’s health fallen off the public radar. Well, like an “oldie, but goodie” that never goes out of style, Health Watch wants to put African American men’s health back in current rotation. So yesterday Health Watch sought to answer the questions, “Can a brother get some love?”- Is African American Men’s Health on the public agenda? Joining us to talk about the issue is a leading researcher in African American Men’s Health, Dr. Henrie Treadwell from the Morehouse College of Medicine.
Dr. Treadwell recently gained public attention when she wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama in response to the establishment of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Although Dr. Treadwell praised the Obama administration for focusing much-needed attention on the status of women and girls in all public sectors, she was disheartened by the fact the same level of attention was not focused on men and boys, particularly those of color including African Americans.
Dr. Treadwell shared with our Health Watch listeners the state of African American men’s health in the United States. Whereas, the health status of American men is woefully less than national averages, for African American men the situation is often far worse. Much of this Dr. Treadwell attributes to how the public health and healthcare sectors, in general, treat African American men. Such systems do not engage African American men, but instead ignore them and their health, acting as if neither exists. (There are interesting parallels between Dr. Treadwell’s description and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man.)
Beyond health systems not seeing African American men (other than stereotypic images related to violence and sex) Dr. Treadwell further shared how they are also not being heard. When asked what the recent upsurge in young African American men committing suicide is telling us (either young men taking their own lives or putting themselves in harm’s way so their lives can be taken by others), Dr. Treadwell’s response was haunting. She told us that many young African American men are telling the nation that their hope is gone. Health Watch listeners were definitely hearing and feeling what Dr. Treadwell was saying. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss.
Despite the seemingly “bad news” about African American men’s health in the United States, Dr. Treadwell shared that she sees many rays of hope. These rays of hope look like community-based, male-friendly care being provided by Morehouse School of Medicine and Project Brotherhood in Chicago, IL. Rays of hope also are evidenced in the expanded use of community health workers, patient navigators, integrated systems of care and other approaches. Many of these are becoming standard practice in healthcare. Hope looks like national foundations putting greater emphasis on racial health equity and Men’s Health. Dr. Treadwell is also encouraged by what she sees African American men doing themselves by organizing African American Men’s Health Conferences and other initiatives to support health, as a personal and political issue. However, sharing the hope Dr. Treadwell sees with many African American men who are without hope is the next step.
Dr. Treadwell told us that spreading hope means creating more opportunities and spaces for African American men to speak and be heard. It also means increasing the ranks of public health and healthcare leadership with men of color, who can support policies that make healthcare accessible to them and all populations. It is also includes affirming the fullness of African American manhood, for there are many African American men who are making a tremendous difference (yet go unrecognized), while supporting those who need help. Dr. Treadwell gave our Health Watch listeners some much needed food for thought last night.
If you are interested in reading more about Dr. Treadwell, her research, and her thoughts about African American Men’s Health, then check out these links:
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/authors/58/Dr.-Henrie-M.-Treadwell
http://www.communityvoices.org/
http://www.msm.edu/Centers_and_Institutes/National_Center_for_Primary_Care_(NCPC).htm
Brothers of all colors, including African American ones, are worthy of the best our healthcare systems can provide. When we keep talking about and working towards health equity, we make sure they get the love they deserve. Health Watch will keep doing its part. We hope you do the same. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Like when a popular song fades, it seems so has African American men’s health fallen off the public radar. Well, like an “oldie, but goodie” that never goes out of style, Health Watch wants to put African American men’s health back in current rotation. So yesterday Health Watch sought to answer the questions, “Can a brother get some love?”- Is African American Men’s Health on the public agenda? Joining us to talk about the issue is a leading researcher in African American Men’s Health, Dr. Henrie Treadwell from the Morehouse College of Medicine.
Dr. Treadwell recently gained public attention when she wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama in response to the establishment of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Although Dr. Treadwell praised the Obama administration for focusing much-needed attention on the status of women and girls in all public sectors, she was disheartened by the fact the same level of attention was not focused on men and boys, particularly those of color including African Americans.
Dr. Treadwell shared with our Health Watch listeners the state of African American men’s health in the United States. Whereas, the health status of American men is woefully less than national averages, for African American men the situation is often far worse. Much of this Dr. Treadwell attributes to how the public health and healthcare sectors, in general, treat African American men. Such systems do not engage African American men, but instead ignore them and their health, acting as if neither exists. (There are interesting parallels between Dr. Treadwell’s description and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man.)
Beyond health systems not seeing African American men (other than stereotypic images related to violence and sex) Dr. Treadwell further shared how they are also not being heard. When asked what the recent upsurge in young African American men committing suicide is telling us (either young men taking their own lives or putting themselves in harm’s way so their lives can be taken by others), Dr. Treadwell’s response was haunting. She told us that many young African American men are telling the nation that their hope is gone. Health Watch listeners were definitely hearing and feeling what Dr. Treadwell was saying. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss.
Despite the seemingly “bad news” about African American men’s health in the United States, Dr. Treadwell shared that she sees many rays of hope. These rays of hope look like community-based, male-friendly care being provided by Morehouse School of Medicine and Project Brotherhood in Chicago, IL. Rays of hope also are evidenced in the expanded use of community health workers, patient navigators, integrated systems of care and other approaches. Many of these are becoming standard practice in healthcare. Hope looks like national foundations putting greater emphasis on racial health equity and Men’s Health. Dr. Treadwell is also encouraged by what she sees African American men doing themselves by organizing African American Men’s Health Conferences and other initiatives to support health, as a personal and political issue. However, sharing the hope Dr. Treadwell sees with many African American men who are without hope is the next step.
Dr. Treadwell told us that spreading hope means creating more opportunities and spaces for African American men to speak and be heard. It also means increasing the ranks of public health and healthcare leadership with men of color, who can support policies that make healthcare accessible to them and all populations. It is also includes affirming the fullness of African American manhood, for there are many African American men who are making a tremendous difference (yet go unrecognized), while supporting those who need help. Dr. Treadwell gave our Health Watch listeners some much needed food for thought last night.
If you are interested in reading more about Dr. Treadwell, her research, and her thoughts about African American Men’s Health, then check out these links:
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/authors/58/Dr.-Henrie-M.-Treadwell
http://www.communityvoices.org/
http://www.msm.edu/Centers_and_Institutes/National_Center_for_Primary_Care_(NCPC).htm
Brothers of all colors, including African American ones, are worthy of the best our healthcare systems can provide. When we keep talking about and working towards health equity, we make sure they get the love they deserve. Health Watch will keep doing its part. We hope you do the same. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Monday, March 15, 2010
“On the Other Side of Grief”
Spring has almost sprung and its time to look forward to living. Yet, you feel like you are stuck. You lost a loved one recently, you lost your job, or you have experienced some other setback and it has taken the wind out of your sails. Your zest for living is gone. You remember how it used to be and the pain is not subsiding. Smack in the middle of grief, you wish there was a lifeline to pull you through. Well, last Thursday Health Watch threw out the lifeline by focusing our attention on grief. It was a Health Watch you would not have wanted to miss!
John Baker and Nicole Hilliard, grief counselors with Alive Hospice came to talk to Health Watch about grief. When it comes to grief there is more than meets the eye. Grief is as unique as the person experiencing it. How a person responds to grief reflects one’s background, how they learned to cope, as well as what kind of experience is causing the grief. Grief over the loss of a parent by an adult child will not be the same as the grief experienced by parents who lost a young child. Because what causes grief is not the same, dealing with our grief requires understanding it in context.
John and Nicole further shared why grieving is especially hard for some people. Death often triggers unresolved issues for those left to grieve. Whether it is anger, guilt, resentment, or abandonment, dealing with these feelings in an environment where you can express them honestly and without being judged are key to moving through the grieving process.
Grief is a process. It is not something that goes away automatically or quickly. Grieving takes time. Those were important take-aways from Thursday’s Health Watch. Grief comes with peaks and valleys, times when you will feel fairly normal and those when you might not. Grief can also manifest itself in many ways. For some concentration is thrown off, sleeping becomes difficult, or they cope by staying busy. For children grief is often reflected in play, especially acting out how they or others are feeling. Paying attention to one’s feelings is an important part of the process.
Grieving is not a process that has to be endured alone. When a person dies things are not the same. A new sense of normalcy has to be created. Nicole likened this to having a beautiful vase shatter. All that is left are broken pieces. Yet, from those broken pieces a stained glass window can be made. That is what life on the other side of grief looks like. Hope resides in picking up the pieces. This is also the point where individual and group grief recovery can become vitally important. Support can help those grieving pick up the pieces and put them back together.
If you are looking for support to help you or others grieve, then a resource like Alive Hospice may have the answers you need. The link below can connect you to what they offer: http://www.alivehospice.org/
Grieving is an experience best shared. Health Watch is a shoulder you can lean on for information and support. When you need us, we are here. So until next time, remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
John Baker and Nicole Hilliard, grief counselors with Alive Hospice came to talk to Health Watch about grief. When it comes to grief there is more than meets the eye. Grief is as unique as the person experiencing it. How a person responds to grief reflects one’s background, how they learned to cope, as well as what kind of experience is causing the grief. Grief over the loss of a parent by an adult child will not be the same as the grief experienced by parents who lost a young child. Because what causes grief is not the same, dealing with our grief requires understanding it in context.
John and Nicole further shared why grieving is especially hard for some people. Death often triggers unresolved issues for those left to grieve. Whether it is anger, guilt, resentment, or abandonment, dealing with these feelings in an environment where you can express them honestly and without being judged are key to moving through the grieving process.
Grief is a process. It is not something that goes away automatically or quickly. Grieving takes time. Those were important take-aways from Thursday’s Health Watch. Grief comes with peaks and valleys, times when you will feel fairly normal and those when you might not. Grief can also manifest itself in many ways. For some concentration is thrown off, sleeping becomes difficult, or they cope by staying busy. For children grief is often reflected in play, especially acting out how they or others are feeling. Paying attention to one’s feelings is an important part of the process.
Grieving is not a process that has to be endured alone. When a person dies things are not the same. A new sense of normalcy has to be created. Nicole likened this to having a beautiful vase shatter. All that is left are broken pieces. Yet, from those broken pieces a stained glass window can be made. That is what life on the other side of grief looks like. Hope resides in picking up the pieces. This is also the point where individual and group grief recovery can become vitally important. Support can help those grieving pick up the pieces and put them back together.
If you are looking for support to help you or others grieve, then a resource like Alive Hospice may have the answers you need. The link below can connect you to what they offer: http://www.alivehospice.org/
Grieving is an experience best shared. Health Watch is a shoulder you can lean on for information and support. When you need us, we are here. So until next time, remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Monday, March 8, 2010
“Lean on Me”
Perhaps above all else, most of us value our independence. We like to come and go as we please, being as active as we can for as long as possible. However, life makes us have to depend on others. No person is an island unto themselves. Whether it is because of a severe accident, debilitating illness or other medical condition, being totally independent is not always possible.
When illness or severe accidents happen, whether for our selves or our loved ones, at some point the conversation turns to “long-term care.” When most people hear those words they think about nursing homes, seemingly dull, sad and depressing places where old people are warehoused until they die. These kinds of images make us shudder. They also make the prospect of growing older or needing care frightening. Yet, long-term care – what it means and the many options available – includes much more than nursing homes. It includes a variety of services that can make living independently possible once again and life enjoyable no matter what your age or physical condition. That’s why last Thursday’s Health Watch wanted to find out more about long-term care.
Joining us to talk to us about the “ends and outs” of long-term care and the variety of options available was Ms. Beverly Bass, a staff member with Bordeaux Long-Term Care. Ms. Bass shared with us that when it comes to long-term care, it truly is a whole new world. Driven in part by consumer demand (particularly aging Baby Boomers who are better educated and savvy consumers), people are demanding more options and better quality long-term care. Long-term care providers have heard these demands and are responding accordingly.
Did you know that it is possible to remain in your home and receive long-term care assistance? Personal care assistants are providers who come to your home and help with basic activities of daily living (i.e., assistance with bathing, getting dressed, and light housekeeping). These providers can also do assessments of your home and point out areas where minor improvements can make getting around your home more pleasant and safe. Along we these care providers, there are others who offer assistance going to the grocery store and running other errands. Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance providers cover many of these services. Most do not require a person to sell their assets (namely your home) in order to receive care. (That’s a relief!)
Ms. Bass also told us that for those needing more assistance many facilities, like Bordeaux Long-Term Care Facility, offers adult daycare, assisted living and residential care. These types of care often incorporate patient-centered philosophies, like the Eden Alternative, which focus on providing residents with community-like atmospheres. They also include amenities, such as: pets, plants, laughter, and fun activities. Instead of being places where residents look forward to dying, current options in long-term care focus on living to the fullest, no matter a person’s age, physical condition or care needs.
These care services not only help those needing care, they can also be a tremendous benefit to loved ones too by reducing the stress and burden that goes along with providing long-term care. If you missed Thursday’s Health Watch then you missed something important!
If you are considering long-term care, either for yourself or someone you love, then the links below might be just what you need to get you started.
http://www.medicare.gov/longTermCare/static/home.asp (Official Medicare site for long-term care concerns)
http://www.bordeauxltc.org/ (Bordeaux Long Term Care Facility. The facility also has counselors available to answer your questions.)
http://www.edenalt.org/about-the-eden-alternative (The Eden Alternative concept)
Long-term care is not something to be afraid of. Likewise, long-term care is not a one-size fits all approach to getting the care you need. The options available are as diverse as the people and families who receive long-term care. Most are only a phone call away.
Growing older or needing care is not something to dread. It might in fact be the start of truly living better. Therefore, Health Watch will continue to bring you the information you need to live life, no matter what your age or condition, to the fullest. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
When illness or severe accidents happen, whether for our selves or our loved ones, at some point the conversation turns to “long-term care.” When most people hear those words they think about nursing homes, seemingly dull, sad and depressing places where old people are warehoused until they die. These kinds of images make us shudder. They also make the prospect of growing older or needing care frightening. Yet, long-term care – what it means and the many options available – includes much more than nursing homes. It includes a variety of services that can make living independently possible once again and life enjoyable no matter what your age or physical condition. That’s why last Thursday’s Health Watch wanted to find out more about long-term care.
Joining us to talk to us about the “ends and outs” of long-term care and the variety of options available was Ms. Beverly Bass, a staff member with Bordeaux Long-Term Care. Ms. Bass shared with us that when it comes to long-term care, it truly is a whole new world. Driven in part by consumer demand (particularly aging Baby Boomers who are better educated and savvy consumers), people are demanding more options and better quality long-term care. Long-term care providers have heard these demands and are responding accordingly.
Did you know that it is possible to remain in your home and receive long-term care assistance? Personal care assistants are providers who come to your home and help with basic activities of daily living (i.e., assistance with bathing, getting dressed, and light housekeeping). These providers can also do assessments of your home and point out areas where minor improvements can make getting around your home more pleasant and safe. Along we these care providers, there are others who offer assistance going to the grocery store and running other errands. Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance providers cover many of these services. Most do not require a person to sell their assets (namely your home) in order to receive care. (That’s a relief!)
Ms. Bass also told us that for those needing more assistance many facilities, like Bordeaux Long-Term Care Facility, offers adult daycare, assisted living and residential care. These types of care often incorporate patient-centered philosophies, like the Eden Alternative, which focus on providing residents with community-like atmospheres. They also include amenities, such as: pets, plants, laughter, and fun activities. Instead of being places where residents look forward to dying, current options in long-term care focus on living to the fullest, no matter a person’s age, physical condition or care needs.
These care services not only help those needing care, they can also be a tremendous benefit to loved ones too by reducing the stress and burden that goes along with providing long-term care. If you missed Thursday’s Health Watch then you missed something important!
If you are considering long-term care, either for yourself or someone you love, then the links below might be just what you need to get you started.
http://www.medicare.gov/longTermCare/static/home.asp (Official Medicare site for long-term care concerns)
http://www.bordeauxltc.org/ (Bordeaux Long Term Care Facility. The facility also has counselors available to answer your questions.)
http://www.edenalt.org/about-the-eden-alternative (The Eden Alternative concept)
Long-term care is not something to be afraid of. Likewise, long-term care is not a one-size fits all approach to getting the care you need. The options available are as diverse as the people and families who receive long-term care. Most are only a phone call away.
Growing older or needing care is not something to dread. It might in fact be the start of truly living better. Therefore, Health Watch will continue to bring you the information you need to live life, no matter what your age or condition, to the fullest. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we should do better. So pass it on!”
Friday, February 26, 2010
“Putting Your Best Foot Forward”
You have heard the expression, “Put your best foot forward.” For most of us that is an idiom; not something we take literally. But maybe we should. Feet are an important part of our bodies, ones that we often overlook and neglect. Despite not paying as much attention to them as we should, our feet keep us firmly planted on the ground and take us from place. Feet are an amazing tool. So amazing in fact, that yesterday Health Watch dedicated an entire hour to talking about feet with Dr. Mark Hinkes, DPM founder of Amputation Prevention Partners, LLC in Nashville.
Dr. Hinkes not only talked about the most common kinds of foot conditions (Dr. Hinkes has treated thousands of patients in his 30+ year career) he also gave our listeners simple things to do to prevent and relieve these conditions. Take for instance dry skin on heels and foot pads. Dr. Hinkes told us that products containing urea penetrate deep into the skin providing moisture that can make cracked heels a thing of the past.
When it comes to corns and calluses, Dr. Hinkes admonished us not to take matters into our own hands literally. He talked to us about the dangers of removing corns with razor blades and other sharp objects (namely because of poor lighting, unsteady hands, not knowing when enough cutting is too much), advising us instead to seek help from a local podiatrist instead. Dr. Hinkes also talked to us about nail fungus, thick, discolored and brittle nails. Instead of rushing to the drug store for the latest over-the-counter treatment (many of which contain salicylic acid), Dr. Hinkes told us about prescription medications we can take short term (up to 3 months) as well as new laser treatments that can rid our toenails of these troubles for good. If you missed last night’s Health Watch then you missed stepping off on the right foot in 2010.
Dr. Hinkes also talked about his real passion, preventing amputations. With simple strategies for foot care, developed working with veterans and others diabetics, Dr. Hinkes has helped people with diabetes keep their feet and toes. So committed to this work, Dr. Hinkes has written a book entitled, Keep the Legs You Stand On. Some of our Health Watch callers received copies last night as giveaways.
From the number of questions generated from last night’s discussion, putting our best foot forward is an issue many Health Watch listeners are concerned about. That’s why we will be bringing Dr. Hinkes back on Health Watch just as soon as we can arrange it. So stay tuned to Health Watch to get the answers you need for your foot concerns.
If you missed the program or want to find out more about Dr. Hinkes and his work, then check out his website at this link: www.amputationprevention.com
Until next time, keep putting your best foot forward and remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
Dr. Hinkes not only talked about the most common kinds of foot conditions (Dr. Hinkes has treated thousands of patients in his 30+ year career) he also gave our listeners simple things to do to prevent and relieve these conditions. Take for instance dry skin on heels and foot pads. Dr. Hinkes told us that products containing urea penetrate deep into the skin providing moisture that can make cracked heels a thing of the past.
When it comes to corns and calluses, Dr. Hinkes admonished us not to take matters into our own hands literally. He talked to us about the dangers of removing corns with razor blades and other sharp objects (namely because of poor lighting, unsteady hands, not knowing when enough cutting is too much), advising us instead to seek help from a local podiatrist instead. Dr. Hinkes also talked to us about nail fungus, thick, discolored and brittle nails. Instead of rushing to the drug store for the latest over-the-counter treatment (many of which contain salicylic acid), Dr. Hinkes told us about prescription medications we can take short term (up to 3 months) as well as new laser treatments that can rid our toenails of these troubles for good. If you missed last night’s Health Watch then you missed stepping off on the right foot in 2010.
Dr. Hinkes also talked about his real passion, preventing amputations. With simple strategies for foot care, developed working with veterans and others diabetics, Dr. Hinkes has helped people with diabetes keep their feet and toes. So committed to this work, Dr. Hinkes has written a book entitled, Keep the Legs You Stand On. Some of our Health Watch callers received copies last night as giveaways.
From the number of questions generated from last night’s discussion, putting our best foot forward is an issue many Health Watch listeners are concerned about. That’s why we will be bringing Dr. Hinkes back on Health Watch just as soon as we can arrange it. So stay tuned to Health Watch to get the answers you need for your foot concerns.
If you missed the program or want to find out more about Dr. Hinkes and his work, then check out his website at this link: www.amputationprevention.com
Until next time, keep putting your best foot forward and remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
“Love the One You're With”
Most people dream one day they will find that special someone, fall in love and live happily ever after. For those fortunate to find true love, being part of a pair is a blessing. But, that dream does not work out for everyone. Whether because of divorce, death, or not being able to find that certain someone, many people end up living alone for some period of their adult lives. There are those who relish singleness and make the most of living solo. Others seem to dread being alone, falling deeper and deeper into despair.
What separates those who are single and satisfied from those who are alone and lonely? That is what Health Watch wanted to find out as we explored “Being Single and Mastering the Art of Aloneness.” Helping us to think about these issues was Lauren Mackler, a professional life coach and author of Solemate: Master the Art of Aloneness & Transform Your Life. On the heels of a lonely Valentine’s Day for some, Lauren’s advice was just what many of our Health Watch listeners needed to hear.
Lauren shared that mastering the art of aloneness is not about advocating for being solo. Instead mastering the art of aloneness is about understanding and loving yourself first so no matter whether you are paired or not, you can get the best out of life. Since you live with yourself 24/7/365, then it makes sense you should like and love yourself best. For Lauren, appreciating aloneness starts with understanding critical things about our selves. Take for instance your family of origin. The family you were raised in has a significant impact on how you think about yourself and deal with being alone. Were you the “hero” in your family or “the rebel”? Were you the oldest child or the middle one? These dynamics influence how you see yourself and interact with others.
Laruen also shared ways to overcome the fears that keep us from living to our fullest and how to quiet the chatter in our heads that makes us feel unworthy of love. Lauren’s candor and kindness had our Health Watch listeners glued to their seats. Health Watch listeners were even calling in days after the show to find out how they could get a copy of Lauren’s book for their own process of self-discovery. It was a Health Watch show worth hearing!
If you were not able to tune in or want to find out more about Lauren and her book, then check out this link: http://www.laurenmackler.com/
Loving yourself is the greatest love of all. Health Watch is convinced of this and we hope our listeners are as well. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
What separates those who are single and satisfied from those who are alone and lonely? That is what Health Watch wanted to find out as we explored “Being Single and Mastering the Art of Aloneness.” Helping us to think about these issues was Lauren Mackler, a professional life coach and author of Solemate: Master the Art of Aloneness & Transform Your Life. On the heels of a lonely Valentine’s Day for some, Lauren’s advice was just what many of our Health Watch listeners needed to hear.
Lauren shared that mastering the art of aloneness is not about advocating for being solo. Instead mastering the art of aloneness is about understanding and loving yourself first so no matter whether you are paired or not, you can get the best out of life. Since you live with yourself 24/7/365, then it makes sense you should like and love yourself best. For Lauren, appreciating aloneness starts with understanding critical things about our selves. Take for instance your family of origin. The family you were raised in has a significant impact on how you think about yourself and deal with being alone. Were you the “hero” in your family or “the rebel”? Were you the oldest child or the middle one? These dynamics influence how you see yourself and interact with others.
Laruen also shared ways to overcome the fears that keep us from living to our fullest and how to quiet the chatter in our heads that makes us feel unworthy of love. Lauren’s candor and kindness had our Health Watch listeners glued to their seats. Health Watch listeners were even calling in days after the show to find out how they could get a copy of Lauren’s book for their own process of self-discovery. It was a Health Watch show worth hearing!
If you were not able to tune in or want to find out more about Lauren and her book, then check out this link: http://www.laurenmackler.com/
Loving yourself is the greatest love of all. Health Watch is convinced of this and we hope our listeners are as well. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
“The Past is Prologue to the Future”
In 1926, the eminent historian Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week.” Designated as the second week in February, the annual event coincided with the birthdays of two figures significant in the history of African Americans – Abraham Lincoln, credited with signing the Emancipation Proclamation and Fredrick Douglass, the ardent abolitionist who once had been enslaved. Woodson intended the commemoration as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people of African descent all over the world. From that humble beginning, “Negro History Week” became Black History Month.
Although some question the relevance of Black History Month, it is hard to imagine what the world would look like without the accomplishments of people of African descent. Whether as inventors, educators, politicians, or entrepreneurs, African Americans have contributed significantly to the history of this country and the world. The same holds true for health.
Sheroes and heroes made tremendous strides in the past and contemporary trendsetters continue to revolutionize the science, practice, administration and art of health and healthcare. In honor of Black History Month, Health Watch wanted to consider some of these history makers and their contributions. Joining us to talk about African American health history makers was Dr. Cecil Cone, a pathologist and medical history buff from Meharry Medical College.
Dr. Cone shared with our listeners how the history of medicine in the United States owes a tremendous debt to the contributions of African Americans and people of African descent. Whether it is Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893 (and who still at Howard University is honored with an intercom page for “Dr. Dan” whenever a patient is in cardiac distress) to Dr Charles Drew who made critical strides in blood plasma and even established the nation’s first blood bank (yet when he was injured, was not able to access the same life-giving treatments he designed because of segregationist medical policies). Even the founding of medicine itself is a testament to Imhotep, an Egyptian astronomer, philosopher and healer as much as it is to Hippocrates. That legacy of African American history makers in health and science continues today.
Dr. Cone schooled us about current historical leaders in health. He reminded us that there have been three African American U.S. Surgeon Generals (including the current one, Dr. Regina Benjamin), along with several Tennessee Department of Health and Mental Health Commissioners, Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Mr. Eric Taylor, and Mr. Evelyn Robertson and local Public Health Department directors, namely Ms. Yvonne Madlock (Memphis) and Dr. Stephanie Bailey (formerly with the Nashville Health Department). It was clear from our conversation that the legacy African American leadership in health continues.
So in honor of past, present and future health makers, Health Watch salutes you. Just like these leaders Health Watch will continue to do its part to “make health happen.” We hope you will do the same. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
Although some question the relevance of Black History Month, it is hard to imagine what the world would look like without the accomplishments of people of African descent. Whether as inventors, educators, politicians, or entrepreneurs, African Americans have contributed significantly to the history of this country and the world. The same holds true for health.
Sheroes and heroes made tremendous strides in the past and contemporary trendsetters continue to revolutionize the science, practice, administration and art of health and healthcare. In honor of Black History Month, Health Watch wanted to consider some of these history makers and their contributions. Joining us to talk about African American health history makers was Dr. Cecil Cone, a pathologist and medical history buff from Meharry Medical College.
Dr. Cone shared with our listeners how the history of medicine in the United States owes a tremendous debt to the contributions of African Americans and people of African descent. Whether it is Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893 (and who still at Howard University is honored with an intercom page for “Dr. Dan” whenever a patient is in cardiac distress) to Dr Charles Drew who made critical strides in blood plasma and even established the nation’s first blood bank (yet when he was injured, was not able to access the same life-giving treatments he designed because of segregationist medical policies). Even the founding of medicine itself is a testament to Imhotep, an Egyptian astronomer, philosopher and healer as much as it is to Hippocrates. That legacy of African American history makers in health and science continues today.
Dr. Cone schooled us about current historical leaders in health. He reminded us that there have been three African American U.S. Surgeon Generals (including the current one, Dr. Regina Benjamin), along with several Tennessee Department of Health and Mental Health Commissioners, Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Mr. Eric Taylor, and Mr. Evelyn Robertson and local Public Health Department directors, namely Ms. Yvonne Madlock (Memphis) and Dr. Stephanie Bailey (formerly with the Nashville Health Department). It was clear from our conversation that the legacy African American leadership in health continues.
So in honor of past, present and future health makers, Health Watch salutes you. Just like these leaders Health Watch will continue to do its part to “make health happen.” We hope you will do the same. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”
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