How do racial issues affect patients' physical and mental health, and how do we address them during regular visits? For those without the lived experience of the black community, how can we learn and educate ourselves? How are the current protests different from those in the past? In order for us to make enduring changes that arise from the protests, what needs to happen?

C. Nicole Swiner is a family physician and can be reached at Docswiner and on Twitter @docswiner.

She shares her story and her perspective on the country's racial climate and how it affects both doctors and patients.