Cure the Culture

Do you know that only 3.6% of the currently practicing Physician Associates/Assistants (PAs as they’re commonly called) are black? In this episode, our hosts Nia Phillips PA-C talks about a wide range of medical topics covering pediatrics and the role of pediatricians and black PA's caring for children. 

Exploring the journey of how Nia got into the specialty of pediatrics, this episode gradually dives deep and answers questions about the PA profession, the differences between being a pediatrician and a PA, what does the work of these professionals look like day in and day out. The conversation further continues and touches upon the topics of educating a parents or caretakers on what are the things that can and should be done to safeguard the health of their children and why this is more of a collaborative effort between the clinicians and parents/caretakers. Nia also answers some of the pressing medical questions that parents often have when trying to navigate their pediatricians office, emergency department and urgent care office when faced with a sick or injured child.

Later in the episode, the hosts also discuss the types of disorders that children of color often face the most, what are the factors that one should consider before choosing a pediatrician office, and some of the red flags that are to be avoided while doing so.

If you are a parent or the caretaker of a child or expecting to become one soon, you don’t want to miss listening to this episode!

Timestamps:

Did you know that, 65% of all pregnancy related deaths are preventable? 90% of deaths related to pregnancy related hemorrhages are preventable and that black women are 243% more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Amutah-Onukagha, the Julia A. Okoro Professor of Black Maternal Health in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Amutah currently researches maternal health disparities, reproductive health and social justice, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDs in Black women.

Dr. Amutah is a best-selling author with over 45 manuscripts, 5 book chapters, and a textbook on culturally responsive evaluation, also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Women’s Health Issues. She is a TedX speaker—her work has been featured in The Atlantic and The Lancet. Dr. Amutah is the Founder and Director of the Maternal Outcomes for Translational Health Equity Research Lab, (MOTHER), a lab that has 35 students ranging from undergrad to postdoc with the goal of adressing maternal health disparities as experienced by Black women.

Key Takeaways:

Links mentioned: Black Mothers Matter Tufts 

Let's talk about relationships!

This episode highlights our very own Eboni Gadson MSW, LSW. Eboni studied psychology at St. John's University in Queens, New York. When she's not working with individuals and couples at The Princeton Center for MindBody Healing, you can find her leading discussions about sexuality, trauma, healthy relationships, and how healthcare practitioners can provide more affirming care.

Eboni and I sit down to discuss all things relationships and answer your questions about monogamy, polygamy, and marriage. We also examine therapy options for individuals and couples exploring these topics. Lastly, we have some engaging dialogue about break-ups and dealing with many types of infidelity that can occur in a relationship.

You don't want to miss this one!

Episode Highlights:

According to recent figures, there are only 500 Black Hematologist/Oncologist in America. If you've listened to the show before, you know that our most powerful tool to Curing The Culture is more Black healthcare providers in EVERY aspect of healthcare. This week we are discussing an important topic, Multiple Myeloma - a rare type of cancer that develops in "white blood cells called a plasma cells. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications. To discuss this topic, I am interviewing  Hematologist / Oncologist. Dr. Daphanie D. Taylor. In this conversation, we discuss her career and 14 year journey in medicine, the shortage of Black Hematologists/Oncologist, and everything about Multiple Myeloma from symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. We hope that this podcast episode provides insight into the disease that black people are 2 x's more likely to develop and helps to dispel any myths you may have heard.

Key Takeaways:

Resources: 

Want to know how you can get involved and help Cure The Culture, email us with questions, comments, and send us future show ideas, we’re always listening!

The reason for the high rate of Black Maternal Mortality in the United States can't be narrowed down into one single cause. Still, our next guest believes that the solution lies in returning to our roots - Midwifery. "We can eradicate this epidemic by keeping women healthy," says Amanda Mondesir LM, CM, MS. Amanda is the founder of Mon De'sir Midwifery and the host of the Midwifery In The Mornings Podcast. In this interview, Amanda discusses her holistic approach to Midwifery and the importance of caring for her patient's physical and emotional needs. Join us as we discuss the importance of caring for your patient's mental, spiritual, and physical needs, the history of Midwifery, and why Amanda says that it's up to us collectively to heal our culture. 

Have you tried various different diets, but none seems to be working for you? You have come to the right place. Aubrey Redd will help us explore and umask diet culture, and chances are, by the end of the episode, you will have answers to your questions. Aubrey Redd, MS, RDN, LDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist practicing in Pennsylvania. Her private practice, Aubrey Redd Nutrition LLC, aims to support her patients on their journey from exiting diet culture to finding food freedom. For her, nutrition isn’t “one-size-fits-all” - it’s an individualized approach! Aubrey will share actionable tips on leading healthier lifestyles while still enjoying the foods you love. 

Comedian Katt Williams said it best "Some of us need to check in with our star player."

Your primary care provider or "PCP" is the quarterback of your health team, and just like a quarterback, your PCP is responsible for getting in the huddle with you and leading you on your health journey. In this episode of Cure The Culture, we are chatting with Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi, a Penn State College of Medicine graduate and founder of the Cherry Hill Free Clinic, about the role of primary care providers. Dr. Oyeyemi's desire to lead his patients to improved health and wellness is the result of witnessing his childhood friend pass away due to a lack of access to healthcare. His experience as an inpatient hospitalist seeing patients struggle to get reliable and high quality care was largely due to combination of wealth and health inequities. Dr. Oyeyemi was thus inspired to establish The Cherry Hill Free Clinic which provides free medical services to the under and uninsured patients in New Jersey. Join us as we discuss the importance of building a relationship with a PCP you trust to ensure you stay on the right track in maintaining your most prized possession - your health.

Key  Takeaways: 

Food is our happy place, literally!

Did you know that 95% of serotonin is produced in our gastrointestinal tract (G.I.)? The link between proper nutrition and good health is well-documented, yet most healthcare providers are taught very little about the natural healing power of food.  Worse are the barriers between insurance providers and dieticians like our guest, Denine Rogers MS, RDN, L.D., FAND. Instead of using a proper balanced diet, exercise and nutrition to heal, we are often taught to treat patients with pharmaceuticals.  Today, we speak to Denine Rogers, registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist, about the need for more black dieticians, barriers within the field, and how physicians and dieticians can work together to create a complete and individualized wellness plan.

[00:01:53] Meet Denine Rogers MS, RDN, LD, FAND

[00:03:49] What inspired her to become a dietitian 

[00:13:54] Why the culture needs more black dieticians and how to get started

[00:14:04]  Challenges that dieticians face and how to overcome them

[00:17:44]  How Denine is leading the charge to recruit more dieticians

[00:23:50]  Reframing weight loss to make better food choices

Today we are highlighting the work of Jacquelyn Clemmons, a birth and traditional postpartum Doula. Mrs. Clemmons comes from a lineage of birth supporters, healers, and entrepreneurs and uses her passion for supporting mothers through their pregnancy journey to Cure, The Culture of the dismissive practices and disparities around maternal care.

The moment a woman learns she is pregnant is when she needs her community to rally around her. Black women often don't get a chance to experience pregnancy in this way, which is why the work of Doulas is "a valuable part of maternity care." Mrs. Clemmons joins us to share her story and invaluable tips on receiving the best care during your pregnancy.

Key Takeaways:

[00:02:44] What is a doula?

Takeaways to help you Cure The Culture:

● The support of a Doula was reserved for the rich - learn why this level of care is necessary for all women.

●  Can your passion for healing co-exist with your entrepreneurial drive? Jacquelyn proves it can.

●  Doulas act as an advocate for the mothers to be. For women of color, this is crucial due to the increased mortality rate of black women in childbirth. Know your rights and how you can advocate for yourself.Mentioned in this episode: 

Jacqueline's book: https://delaluzwellness.mykajabi.com/offers/rkwSyLKK/checkout 

Let’s welcome Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, an associate Professor at Duke University School of Medicine and Director of Research for the Cook Centre of Social Equity at Duke University. Her research centers on how racism, gender, and culture influence African Americans’ healthy development throughout their life. She joins us to discuss how COVID has affected the black community, how to cope, and what’s next.

A winding round brought Keisha to where she is now. Growing up in a safe household in a city with gang violence, Keisha was always aware that life wasn’t fair for everyone, and her family was very focused and involved in protecting youth and families. At Howard University, Keisha began to learn more about the disparities that were in play for marginalized communities. Much of her work comes from frustration, why do we have to fight to survive and thrive in spite of the system?

Moving on, Keisha discusses the experience of black patients and the importance of having POC caregivers. With COVID, when testing actually caught up, it showed black people were disproportionately at risk from COVID, and at an earlier age. Social constructs are not in the favor of the black community, and we need to address the why. Advocate for your care, ask questions, and fight for yourself.

With COVID, Keisha has seen a lot more interdepartmental cooperation, and she hopes it endures and moves through to other areas. Continuity of care is so important when battling disparity and the roadblocks to further care prevent that.

To end today’s episode, we are taken through the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the black community, how to combat it, and the ways in which black people are more at risk.