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Healthcare should be care for us all, including people who have had less access to care. At The Patient Story, we are dedicated to acknowledging and addressing the health disparities created by historical and systemic injustices. The mission with our program, Continuing the Dream, is simple but imperative:
Recognize and honor the contributions of Black and African Americans to healthcare and play whatever part we can in building up trust of the healthcare system.
We are committed to doing this through spotlighting and amplifying your voices so people understand that you are not alone. Our goal is to build a library of authentic stories reflecting how real people try to navigate life with illness, along with grassroots, educational, community events with the hopes that our program motivates change for the better.
Every voice matters, and it starts with yours. By contributing your story or attending our events, you become an integral part of the movement toward doing better for Black and African Americans. Together, we amplify the experiences and wisdom of this community, fostering a future where disparities are addressed, we begin the path to rebuild trust for families everywhere, and every individual receives the dignified care they deserve. Join us in continuing the dream and making a lasting impact on healthcare for all.
Black and African Amercian medical pioneers and everyday heroes have made invaluable contributions to healthcare. For instance, Leonidas Harris Berry, MD, a renowned gastroenterologist, faced racism in the workplace and fought for years to get hired as an attending at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, later leading a commission to increase inclusivity for Black physicians and organizing the Flying Black Medics to provide medical care and education to underserved communities. We celebrate these achievements and highlight their stories to show what is possible and hopefully inspire future generations.
We aim to spotlight Black and African American voices engaged in advancing healthcare access and outcomes in communities all across the U.S. We hope to inspire and make connections through stories from patients, care partners, healthcare workers, public health advocates, and community leaders. By bringing stories from your own community to light, we hope to foster better understanding and drive change.
We are committed to advocating for policies and practices that promote access to great health care for all. Our efforts include supporting research, community health initiatives, and educational programs that address the unique needs of the Black and African American community. We aim to also feature our partners that do incredible work in this space, including nonprofits such as the Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African Americans (ECANA), which focuses on improving the health and wellness of Black women through advocacy, education, and research.
We need to be making relationships with communities that are around us in the same way we would be thinking about and making relationships with our friends.
Black Americans have faced a long history of injustices in healthcare, marked by significant events that have fostered deep-seated mistrust in the medical system. From the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where Black men were misled and denied proper treatment, to the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks’ cells without her consent, these events highlight the systemic racism and ethical violations that have disproportionately affected the Black community.
The legacy of these injustices has led to ongoing disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes for Black Americans. These disparities are evident in higher rates of chronic illnesses, lower life expectancy, and significant barriers to accessing quality care. The mistrust born from historical wrongdoings continues to affect the willingness of many Black individuals to seek medical treatment or participate in clinical research.
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