The Impact of Inequities
I first learned about Henrietta Lacks by reading “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.?A compelling story elevating how pivotal Henrietta’s cells were/are to science, but at what cost? Most of us have heard of HeLa cells, these are her cells, that were gathered at The John Hopkins Hospital without her knowledge or consent.?This book tells the story of Henrietta's life, her family’s life, the impact of inequities and racism, how her cells are the foundation for so many scientific breakthroughs, and the importance of bioethics.?When people ask me for a book recommendation, it’s always at the top of my list.
I have read the research and heard the stories about the impact of inequities on people’s lives. In 2020, our lives fundamentally changed due to a global pandemic, where we know People of Color experienced a greater impact that white people. We also saw the historic and systematic racism that People of Color live with come to the forefront.?
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As a program officer at The SCAN Foundation, my work focuses on improving the systems of care and support so all of us can age well in our homes and communities. We have become more intentional by calling out inequities in aging and committing to advance health equity. We emphasize improving systemic issues for older adults of color, those who are low-income, and older residents of geographically underserved areas. This has allowed me the opportunity to reflect on my own experiences and grow my understanding. In 2023, I took a series of courses from Cornell University focused on countering unconscious bias; building diversity, equity, and inclusion into all of our work; and cultivating engagement.?
What I better understand today is the lasting impact of inequities, and how these shape the thoughts, experiences, and lives of generation after generation of people, families, and communities. When those inequities are recognized and addressed, like the settlement Henrietta Lacks’s family announced yesterday, people can begin to heal. However, accepting responsibility for a wrong and righting a wrong is only the start.?
Education and Community Outreach, Health Care, Social Services, Stakeholder Engagement
1 年Thanks for sharing and for the work you are doing to improve systems of care. I first heard about HeLa cells when I watched a movie based on her story. It helped me better understand the distrust some communities have towards the medical system, government, etc. There really are some systemic forces working against some of us whether we are aware of it or not.