Til it is Broken: Recent Episodes
Fridien Tchoukoua, Lorene Cudjoe, Charles Samuel, Kierra Adams, Cynthia Okoh, Nancy Githere
Welcome to Til it is Broken, a podcast pioneered by health professional students aiming to raise awareness to the toxic health disparities that continue to affect underserved communities in America. The conversation will NOT stop UNTIL the cycle of health disparity and oppression against marginalized groups within medicine IS BROKEN!
According to the covid-19 vaccine data (reported on March 28, 2021):
§ 1,082,702 of Indiana residents have been fully
vaccinated against COVID-19
§ 87.3% of those individuals identify as White.
§ Only 4.9% of those vaccinations have been distributed to Blacks/African Americans despite African-Americans comprising
9.4% of Indiana’s population.
Why aren’t African Americans getting vaccinated? And how can current and future healthcare professionals address this disparity? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Maria Wilson to discuss the myths surrounding COVID-19 vaccination as well as disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations in the black communities of Indiana.
About Dr. Maria Wilson:
Maria Wilson, MD, MSc is a wife and mother of two. Graduated from Prairie View
A&M University then went on to the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
She concurrently attended U of L’s School of Public Health and Information
Sciences earning a masters degree in Epidemiology and Clinical Investigative
Sciences alongside my medical doctorate. She went on to complete her Internal
Medicine Residency training at Indiana University, which is where she developed
her passion for primary care, specifically in underserved populations.
Her current role is as Senior Medical Director for Oak Street Health. She is part
of the leadership team that oversees the 8 centers in Indiana. Oak Street
Health is a mission-oriented private health care company that delivers
excellent primary care for adults on medicare. They are currently spread across
14 states with 75+ centers. Oak Street specifically sets up their centers in healthcare deserts where people have historically had complicated relationships with the healthcare system.
Racism has long been a part of our healthcare system. One manifestation
of racial health disparities, for instance, pertains to Black pregnancies.
Our inaugural episode is titled “Black Motherhood.” With insight and
wisdom from Dr. Chemen Neal, we tackle and discuss the obstacles to
equal healthcare that exist amongst Black mothers in Indiana (and beyond).
About Dr. Chemen Neal:
Chemen M. Neal, MD, received her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and medical degree from the University Of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Indiana University School of Medicine and served as a faculty fellow in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at the IU School of Medicine. As a fellow, she focused on the professional development and retention of women and people of color in academic medicine. Her interests lead her to become passionate about physician wellness and the advancement of physicians as leaders. Dr. Neal founded an initiative called “The White Coat
Project ” and now facilitates engaging professional development workshops at academic medical institutions throughout the United States.