Taking the Plunge: How Skydiving Prepared Me for Health Equity

Have you ever done something incredibly daring, something that pushed you way outside your comfort zone? Maybe it was public speaking for the first time, moving to a new location, or, like me, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. That's what the world of health equity felt like a few years ago – a daring leap into the unknown. The urgency around racial and health inequities became undeniable, and public health professionals like myself were suddenly grappling with entirely new challenges. We were asked to step into roles and responsibilities we hadn't quite anticipated, forced to become architects of a more equitable healthcare system. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and a whole lot like jumping out of a plane with no prior experience.

But even within that wild skydiving experience, I learned a ton of valuable practices that I find myself coming back to again and again in my health equity work.

Preparation is EVERYTHING

Skydiving might look crazy, but trust me, it's mostly meticulous preparation. Hours of it. Think about it: you're literally jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at thousands of feet. There's no room for error. That's why skydiving schools dedicate a significant amount of time to education. You learn about freefall body position, proper parachute deployment procedures, and emergency protocols. In the same way, health equity work demands constant preparation, self-reflection, and analysis of the systems we are trying to change. We need to be deeply familiar with our communities' challenges, existing policies and programs, and the data that informs our interventions. Just like skydivers need to understand wind patterns and potential hazards, we need to understand the social, economic, and political factors that influence health outcomes. Regular self-reflection is also crucial. Are there biases I'm unaware of? Am I approaching this problem with the right perspective? Taking the time to ask ourselves these tough questions allows us to course-correct and become more effective advocates for health equity. Finally, similar to how skydiving instructors meticulously check and double-check all the gear, we need to be rigorous in our analysis of the systems we're working within. Are there unintended consequences of certain policies? By systematically examining the systems, we can identify areas for improvement and ensure that our interventions are truly moving the needle on health equity.

Celebrate EVERY Win

Waiting at the skydiving place was an experience in itself. Every person who landed, whether they stuck a perfect superhero landing or stumbled out of the harness with a goofy grin, got a round of applause from those of us still waiting. It was a powerful reminder that in health equity, progress isn't always linear. There are going to be setbacks, unexpected challenges, and moments where we feel like we've taken two steps back. But even those moments deserve to be celebrated. Every small win, every community we connect with, every policy change that advances health equity is a victory. These small wins are the stepping stones that keep us motivated and moving forward in the long run. And who knows, maybe your celebration will inspire someone else who's feeling discouraged, scared, and anxious. Recognizing and celebrating the wins, big and small, fosters a sense of community and collective accomplishment in the fight for health equity. It fuels our collective spirit and reminds us of the impact we're having, one step at a time.

We Don't Do This Alone

During the whole time you prepare to jump out of a plane, you keep coming back to thinking of only yourself and that you're going to be alone. Many of us feel alone when navigating inequitable systems. The moment I got on the plane, the reality hit. I wasn't alone. Strapped to my back was a seasoned skydiving instructor, radiating calm and expertise. In the world of health equity, our instructors come in many forms – mentors, colleagues, community leaders, even the folks who have been fighting for health justice for decades. These are the people we can rely on to be our guides, our safety nets. They help us navigate the complexities of the system, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate our successes. Just like my skydiving instructor helped me focus on the breathtaking view instead of the ground rushing below, these experienced partners help us keep our eyes on the bigger picture and our spirits high. And let's not forget, sometimes they're the ones who pull the metaphorical parachute when things get rough. Having a strong team around you is essential in health equity work. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and we need the support and encouragement of others to stay the course.

Keep your eyes on the Big Picture

Imagine that 10-15 minutes of gentle floating after the jump. You're strapped to your guide, chatting away, and suddenly, the Boston skyline unfolds beneath you in all its glory. A breathtaking perspective shift, right? It's like stepping back from a painting you've been working on nose-to-canvas for weeks. Suddenly, you see the whole composition, the balance of colors, and the way different elements work together. That's what taking a moment to zoom out can do in health equity work. We can get bogged down in the details, the daily challenges, the seemingly insurmountable roadblocks. But we can see the bigger picture when we take a step back. We see how our work connects to the broader fight for a more just and equitable healthcare system. We see our impact on communities, and it reignites our passion to keep going. That's the thing about systems change, right? Sometimes, we have to zoom out, evaluate the grand scheme, and remind ourselves to be hard on the process, not the people.

So, there you have it!

Skydiving and health equity might seem worlds apart, but sometimes those crazy experiences teach us the most about this critical work.

Acknowledgments: It takes a village to do equity work, and I am thankful to all the groups that have helped shape me over the years. NCQA Georgetown University School of Medicine Michigan Health & Hospital Association Michigan State University Program in Public Health Michigan State University College of Natural Science American Public Health Association American Heart Association Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Food & Friends MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety Master's Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and so many more individuals to list.