What MLK Day Teaches Us About Healthcare: Caring Beyond Divisions

Every year, as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of equality, justice, and love for all humanity, I find myself reflecting on how his message applies to healthcare. Dr. King once said:

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.”

That statement, made in 1966, is just as relevant today as it was then. Healthcare inequities remain a glaring issue, and they are particularly devastating for Black children and other marginalized groups. But beyond statistics and policy discussions, there’s something deeper we need to talk about: how we, as human beings, care for each other.

This is not a political discussion. It’s not about labels or rhetoric. It’s not about being ‘woke’ or approaching sainthood. It’s about something far more fundamental: recognizing our shared humanity, acknowledging our biases, and committing to care for all people — not just those who look, think, or act like us.

True caregivers — whether they are doctors, nurses, or anyone working in service to others — must approach every patient with empathy and respect, regardless of who that patient is. And just as importantly, patients must also give that same lack of pre-judgment to their caregivers.

This is what Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned: a world where we see beyond our differences and care for each other as equals. But achieving that vision requires hard work, humility, and honest self-reflection. It’s uncomfortable at times, but it’s necessary if we’re going to build a more just and compassionate society.

Growing Up Sheltered: Living in Silos Without Realizing It

I didn’t always see the world this way. In fact, looking back, I realize now that I grew up somewhat sheltered from those who had less. I lived in a middle-class neighborhood where everyone was pretty much the same — the same race, the same socioeconomic background, the same general way of life.

It wasn’t intentional, but that was simply the world we lived in. There was no internet to show us what life was like beyond our neighborhood, and no real interaction with people outside of our circle.

When I went to public high school, I began to see more diversity. Kids from other neighborhoods were bussed in, but that didn’t mean we were hanging out at each other’s houses after school. We still lived in separate silos — separate lives, separate realities. I wasn’t exposed to what their lives were really like, and they weren’t exposed to mine.

We all grow up in silos to some degree. We only know what we know. And if we’re not exposed to different experiences, different perspectives, or different struggles, it’s easy to assume that everyone’s reality looks like our own.

It wasn’t until I went to medical school and began my clinical rotations that I truly saw the deep inequities in our society. For the first time, I came face to face with patients who were living in poverty, who had been marginalized by the healthcare system, and who lacked access to basic resources that I had taken for granted growing up.

Medical Careers: Eye Openers to a World Most Never See

There’s something unique about a career in healthcare. It opens your eyes to a world that most people have no clue exists. It exposes you to the realities of human suffering, the challenges of poverty, and the impact of systemic inequities in a way that’s hard to put into words.

And this isn’t just true for patients. It’s true for those of us entering the medical field as well. Even those of us who went into medicine with good intentions — thinking we would treat everyone equally and provide the same care to all — are often confronted with the harsh truth that our system is not designed to serve everyone equally.

Over time, I began to see that equality in healthcare isn’t as simple as treating everyone the same. Because not everyone starts from the same place. Some patients face systemic barriers — poverty, lack of access to care, unsafe living environments — that others don’t.

It became clear to me that true caregiving isn’t about treating everyone the same. It’s about recognizing that some people need more — more time, more advocacy, and more understanding — to overcome the barriers they face.

Recognizing My Own Biases

But it wasn’t just the system that needed fixing. I also had to confront something uncomfortable within myself: my own biases.

For a long time, I believed that I treated everyone the same. I thought that, as long as I showed up and did my job as a doctor, I was contributing to equality in healthcare. But over time, I began to see that we all carry biases — whether we realize it or not.

And those biases aren’t always obvious. They’re not necessarily overt or intentional. Instead, they’re subtle assumptions we make without even realizing it. They show up in how we interact with patients, how we perceive people’s choices, and how we interpret their experiences.

I’m not saying this to paint myself as some enlightened figure who has it all figured out. This isn’t about patting myself on the back or calling myself ‘woke.’ Far from it. I’m still learning. I’m still reflecting. I’m still working to confront my own biases and become a better caregiver, a better listener, and a better human being.

This is not about achieving some kind of moral high ground. It’s about acknowledging that we all carry biases, and that if we don’t recognize and address them, they will continue to impact the care we provide and the way we see others.

Healthcare Inequities Today: A Continuing Crisis

The disparities I saw early in my career have not gone away. In fact, in many ways, they’ve grown worse.

Consider these facts:

Black infants are 2.3 times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants.

Black children are 10 times more likely to die from asthma-related complications than white children.

Black mothers are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white mothers.

Black children are more likely to experience childhood obesity, diabetes, and mental health challenges — often due to factors outside their control, like lack of access to healthy food, safe spaces to play, or mental health resources.

These disparities aren’t the result of genetics. They are the result of systemic inequities — in healthcare, in education, in housing, and in the very air that people breathe.

And while policy changes are necessary to address these issues, there’s also work to be done at the individual level.

Caring Beyond Divisions: A Call for Unity

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned over the course of my career is this: Real caregivers care for all people. They don’t just care for those who look like them, think like them, or share their worldview. They care for those who are different. They care for those whose stories they may never fully understand.

But this responsibility goes both ways. Patients, too, must approach their caregivers with respect, trust, and a willingness to let go of preconceptions.

Just as we ask healthcare providers to check their biases, patients must also do the work of recognizing their own biases toward caregivers.

Final Thought: The Road Ahead

Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a world where we saw each other, not through the lens of race, gender, or status, but through the lens of our shared humanity.

This MLK Day, let’s honor his legacy by committing to care for each other — with empathy, humility, and without pre-judgment. Because in the end, we all need care — and we all deserve dignity, respect, and love.