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.