ESSENCE Fest 2024: Medical Experts Call For Inclusive And Compassionate Health Care For Black Patients

Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE How many of us can relate to not feeling heard or seen by a healthcare provider? This pressing issue was the focus of the conversation titled “Centering Black Patients and Stories in Health Care” the Global Black Economic Forum during the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture 2024. The discussion highlighted the disparities and challenges Black patients face within the healthcare system, emphasizing the urgent need for more inclusive and compassionate care. Dr. Pamela Allen, Associate Professor and Chair at the University of Oklahoma; Dr. Ashanda Saint John, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Health Alliance Hospital; and Kelly Copes-Anderson, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Eli Lilly and Company, shared the work they do to ensure that Black communities can access care that considers our unique needs.   NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: (L-R) Pamela Allen, Kelly Copes-Anderson and Ashanda Saint Jean attend the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) DEI is central to this conversation because when we have people who look like us as providers in...