Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the myriad ways that structural racism and oppression affect healthcare and health outcomes, including wellbeing and quality of life. These same systemic issues plague the Parkinson’s community and result in care inequities and disparities that disproportionately affect people of color, women, people with limited English proficiency, and more.

In this conversation, Nicte I. Mejia, MD, MPH, FAAN, and Aswita Tan-McGrory, MSPH, discussed how these systems of racism and oppression affect our community, and how we can take these learnings and create the change needed to ensure all people can live well with Parkinson’s.