Browsing the archives for the health disparities category
You’re in your 30s. You work hard. You strive to master your craft. You support your extended family. You are liked by both your co-workers and boss. Problem: You unexpectedly become unhealthy–you find out your kidneys are failing. Solution: Regular kidney dialysis can keep you alive, by filtering toxins out of your blood. Problem: Dialysis [...]
What the Mississippi “kidney sisters” teach us about politics and medicine.
When I made the choice to be a doctor at a medical school I wasn’t sure exactly what ramifications (beside teaching the next generations of doctors) my job would have. It became clear to me after a year that being an academic afforded me many privileges: of course, mentoring and teaching relationships, but also the [...]
Imagine if I told you that because of the color of your skin, you wouldn’t be allowed access to certain health care services. Pretty outrageous, right? After all, discrimination based on skin color or ethnicity is beyond the pale in 21st century America. What if the color of your skin made you four times more likely [...]